tihvaxy  of  t:he  theological  ^tminaxy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


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PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  K.   LeFevre 

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THE  BETTER  WAY 


IN 


Church  Finances 


REV.  JAMES  S.  KENDALL 

General  Secretary  of  the  Stewardship  Cottimission  of 
The  United  Brethren  Church 


THE  OTTERBEIN  PRESS 

W.  R.  Funk,  Agent 

Dayton,  Ohio 

1910 


;    \ 


Introduction 


MONEY  matters  press  heavily  upon  most  churches. 
Pastors  and  official  boards  often  carry  burdens 
that  are  little  realized  by  the  congregation. 

Adequate  and  business  like  financing  lies  at  the  heart 
of  every  successful  enterprise.  This  is  fundamental  and 
never  incidental.  Especially  is  this  true  in  church 
activities. 

The  promoting  of  the  benevolent  interests  is  a  matter 
of  concern  to  the  individuals  to  whom  their  management 
is  entrusted.  They  are  often  agonizing  in  heart  and 
mind  in  their  efforts  to  secure  sufficient  funds  to  accom- 
plish what  necessity  and  opportunity  places  upon  them. 

This  little  volume  is  given  to  the  church  in  the  hope 
that  it  may  aid  the  official  boards  and  others  to  whom 
the  financing  of  the  local  church  is  committed  in  solving 
the  problem.  We  do  not  claim  for  it  literary  finish,  but 
have  earnestly  sought  to  present  in  the  simplest  and 
most  practical  manner  a  few  suggestions  and  plans  that 
have  proven  effectual  when  worked.  We  do  not  claim 
perfection  for  the  system  recommended,  but  some  plans 
are  better  than  others,  especially  when  they  are  in  keep- 
ing with  the  New^  Testament  teachings,  and  carry  with 
them    business    system. 

Neither  do  we  claim  originality  for  many  of  the  plans 
suggested.  Many  of  them  have  been  used  in  financing 
churches.  They  have  worked  successfully  and  we  do 
not  hesitate  to  recommend  them. 

T.  S.  KENDALL 


N3^ 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER   I. 
CHURCH  SUPPORT. 
Church  Support  Not  Charity. — The  Vahie  of  the  Church  to  Society.— 

Supporting   the    I<ocal    Church 7 

CHAPTER    II. 

THE   OFFICIAL    BOARD. 

Better    Times. — It    Works. — The    Requisite    for    Success. — The    Pastor 

and  the   Official   Board. — The  Stewards. — A  Finance   Committee. — 

Keep  the  Congregation  Informed. — Providing  Against  Deficiencies. 

— The  Official   Board  and   Benevolences 17 

CHAPTER   III. 

THE  ENVELOPE  SYSTEM. 
System     in     Giving. — The     Plan     Suggested. — The     Envelope     Recom- 
mended.— Why    Use    the    Envelope    System. — The    Advantages    of 
This  System.— "Agony   Day." — Quickened    Life 27 

CHAPTER  IV. 

WORKING  THE  PLAN. 
Organization. --Budget. —  Secure   a^  Pledge. — \Vays   That    Win. — A    Pas- 
tor   Who     Led     the     Way. — Suggested     Forms. — Quarterly     State- 
ment.— Prayer. — Reminding     Delinquents. — A     Successful     Plan. — 
Quarterly    Financial    Statement o7 

CHAPTER   V. 

HOW   IT   WORKS   WHEN   WORKED. 
As  Presiding  Elders  See  it. — How  it  Worked  Where  Tried  by   Pastors.     50 

CHAPTER   VI. 

HINTS  TO  STEWARDS  AND  SOLICITORS. 
Enthusiasm. — Enlisting     the     Congregation. — This     is     Fundamental. — 
Thorough    Training. — ^Cfiurch    Aroused. — The   Solicitors. — Secure    a 
Pledge.— Division    of    Labor. — Meeting    Objections    to    Pledging. — 
Paying  Pledges    59 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   RURAL   CHURCH. 
The  Remedy. — Personal   Offering   to  the   Lord. — How   it   Works  Where 

Introduced    G8 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  BENEVOLENCES   OF  THE  CHURCH. 
Wrong    System. — Deal    With    the    Individual. — Organize    the    Benevo- 
lences.— Single   Budget. — How   a   Church   Succeeded 77 

CHAPTER   IX. 

THE   TITHE. 
The   Tithe   Has  Its  Moral   Grounds. — The  Mosaic    Law  of  the  Tithe.^ 
The    New    Testament    Teaching    of    the    Tithe. — The    Sanction    of 
Jesus. — Paul's   Teaching   on   the   Tithe. — The   Apostolic    Church   on 
tithing. — The  Tithe  as  a  Eaw  for  To-day ST 

CHAPTER    X. 
THE  TITHE  AND  TITHERS. 
The  Use  of  the  Tithe. — The  Tithe  Covenant  Plan.— The  Advantages. — 

Experiences   of    Churches. — Organize 08 

CHAPTER    XI. 

TITHES   AND  GOD'S   BLESSING. 

The  Kev  in  Our  Hands. — The  Tithe  and  God's  Promises  of  Spiritual 
BlcFsings. — Tithes  and  Revivals. — The  Tithe  the  Key  to  Temporal 
Blessings. — Individual   Testimonies   as  to   God's    Faithfulness 109 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  GR.\CE  OF  GIVING. 
How  can    Giving  be   a    Grace? — Give   Ourselves. — Love   is    Es&ential.— 
Giving     Should     be     Intelligent. — Self     Denial. — Must     be     Liberal 
Giving. — Should   be    a    Part    of    Our    Worship. — Giving   Must   be    a 

Joy  no 


T 


CHAPTER  I. 

CHURCH  SUPPORT 

HE  church's  resources  and  how  to  make  them  avail- 
able is  the  problem  in  many  of  our  local  congre- 
gations. In  discussing  this  great  question  we  are 
touching  a  most  vital  point  in  the  spiritual  and  temporal 
prosperity  of  the  church.  The  problem  of  sustaining  the 
church  has  too  often  been  treated  from  the  wrong  view- 
point. The  impression  has  gone  abroad  that  the  entire 
fault  has  been  in  the  system,  when  the  facts  are.  that 
it  is  in  the  spirit  and  purpose  of  giving  as  well  as  in  the 
system.  The  attitude  of  many  church  members  toward 
the  support  of  the  church  is  entirely  non-Christian  and 
positively  detrimental.  The  fundamental  idea  of  Chris- 
tian giving  is,  that  we  are  bond-servants  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  as  such  belong  to  him  by  a  two-fold  title — 
creation  and  redemption.  To  fail  in  faithfulness  in 
rendering  unto  the  Lord  that  which  is  his,  is  sinful  if 
not  criminal.  The  editor  of  the  Homilctic  Reviezv  says : 
"The  cold  truth  is,  that  tax-dodgers  and  non-contributing 
Christians  are  birds  of  a  feather.  Their  attitude  is  the 
same  aversion  to  an  unwelcome  obligation  and  an  avoid- 
ance of  its  demands." 

It  is  hard  for  many  honest,  conscientious  people  to 
understand  why  they  are  under  obligations  to  give  of 
tlic  means  for  which  they  have  sacrificed  and  toiled,  t(^ 
ilic  support  of  the  church.     This  will  not  be  when  the 


8  The  Better  Way 

individual  discovers  the  true  relation  that  exists  between 
him,  on  the  one  hand,  and  his  Lord  and  the  church  on' 
the  other,  or  if  he  can  but  see  the  relation  of  the  church  to 
the  world  and  its  needs.  The  purpose  of  the  existence 
of  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ  is,  that  the  gospel  may  be 
given  to  every  creature,  and  that  we  may  discover  our 
true  inheritance  in  him.  A  single  sentence  from  the 
marvelous  prayer  of  our  Lord  gives  the  true  purpose  of 
the  church.  In  it  He  declares,  that  as  the  Father  has 
sent  him  into  the  world,  so  has  he  sent  his  disciples 
into  the  world.  Thus  the  mission  of  the  church  is  iden- 
tical with  that  of  Jesus,  namely,  to  give  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation  to  all  the  world.  With  many  members  of 
the  church,  the  only  method  of  fulfilling  this  trust  com- 
mitted to  them  is  by  supporting  the  church  with  their 
money.  For  them  to  fail  here  is  to  fail  entirely.  It  has 
pleased  the  Lord  to  place  every  believer  under  solemn 
obligation  to  do  his  full  share  in  carrying  out  his  purpose 
of  saving  the  world. 

The  work  committed  to  the  church  cannot  be  done  with- 
out the  developing  of  proper  agencies.  Churches  must 
be  built  and  maintained,  missionary  activities  must  be 
projected,  workers  must  be  trained  and  maintained  in 
the  work  to  which  God  has  called  them.  This  cannot  be 
done  without  the  expenditure  of  money.  No  one  will 
doubt  but  that  God  could  have  made  different  provisions. 
He  might  have  committed  this  glorious  task  to  angels, 
but  he  chose  to  confer  this  high  honor  upon  men.  He 
has  made  no  other  plans  for  this  great  work.  He  is  truly 
counting  on  us.     He  puts  his  claim  on  the  material  sub- 


In  Church  Finances  9 

stance  of  the  church.  This  is  hard  for  some  to  under- 
stand. The  moneyed  men  in  the  days  of  Christ  laughed 
at  his  ideas  about  the  use  of  money.  It  is  said  that  "The 
Pharisees,  who  were  lovers  of  money,  heard  all  these 
things,  and  they  scoffed  at  him"  (Luke  16:  14).  What  a 
privilege  to  have  the  power  of  aiding  in  carrying  out  the 
plans  and  purpose  of  God  for  his  church  and  making  glad 
the  hearts  of  the  needy! 

Church  Support.     Not  Charity. 

We  have  allowed  ourselves  to  look  upon  church 
support  as  a  charity.  With  many  the  church  is 
regarded  as  an  organized  appeal  to  charity,  and  they 
respond  to  her  appeals  as  they  do  to  other  charities.  This 
is  a  great  mistake.  A  proper  conception  as  to  the  true 
relation  of  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  social  and 
moral  condition  of  society,  will  place  her  appeal  for  sup- 
port on  an  entirely  different  basis.  Any  institution  that 
is  a  necessity  to  our  well-being  must  be  maintained,  and 
every  individual  is  responsible  for  his  part  of  its  main- 
tenance. The  Government  is  looked  upon  as  such  a 
necessity,  and  our  taxes  are  paid  because  we  realize  that 
such  an  institution  is  for  our  own  good  and  it  is  our  duty 
to  see  that  it  is  properly  maintained. 

Is  not  the  propagating  of  the  church  in  the  world  of 
such  importance  to  our  individual  well-being  that  she  has 
claims  upon  us  beyond  that  of  mere  charity?  If  we  can 
fully  realize  the  value  of  the  church  upon  earth,  we  will 
more  readily  see  our  indebtedness  to  her  and  our  obliga- 
tion to  give  of  our  means  for  her  support. 


10  The  Better  Way 

The  Value  of  the  Church  to  Society. 

If  we  can  realize  the  value  of  the  church  to  society  we 
will  more  readily  give  to  her  support.  History  fully 
reveals  the  fact  that  no  nation  ever  attained  to  the 
highest  type  of  civilization  apart  from  Christianity. 
Hume,  infidel  as  he  was,  ascrihed  the  civil  liberty  of 
England  to  the  Puritans.  Cecil  Rhodes  said,  *'As  a 
politician,  I  believe  that  one  of  the  chief  mainstays  of  the 
government  is  religion."  IMr.  Gladstone,  when  asked 
what  he  regarded  as  the  brightest  hope  for  the  future  of 
the  world,  replied :  "The  maintenance  of  faith  in  the 
invisible.  This  is  the  mainstay  of  civilization.  After 
sixty  years  of  public  life  I  hold  more  strongly  than  ever 
to  this  conviction."  The  maintenance  of  the  church  is 
of  untold  value  to  the  commonwealth.  Even  Voltaire 
said,  "Unless  there  be  diffused  among  men  a  belief  in  a 
power  to  which  day  and  night  are  just  the  same,  who 
takes  cognizance  of  secret  as  well  as  overt  action,  all  law 
must  prove  inefficacious." 

The  history  of  missions  is  an  unanswerable  argument 
as  to  the  efficiency  of  Christianity  for  the  social  elevation 
of  the  people.  The  civilization  that  follows  in  the  wake 
of  the  church  is  high  or  low  as  the  principles  maintained 
by  it  are  pure  and  true.  The  history  of  nations  proves 
that  they  do  not  rise  higher  than  the  principles  they 
gather  from  the  life  of  the  church.  When  Paris  dis- 
regarded religion  and  closed  the  doors  of  the  church, 
the  Reign  of  Terror  came  upon  her,  and  but  for  Na- 
poleon, who  restored  the  worship  of  the  true  God,  Paris, 
to-day,    might    have    a    history    similar    to    others    that 


Ill  Church  Finances  11 

forgot  God.  The  social  blessings  which  we  are  enjoying 
to-day  put  an  obligation  upon  us  to  give  to  the  support 
of  the  church  to  the  limit  of  our  ability. 

The  value  of  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ  to  commerce 
or  business  is  of  such  importance  that  we  are  under  obli- 
gations to  sustain  her.  The  presence  of  the  church  en- 
hances the  commercial  value  of  the  things  that  we  possess. 
Property  is  always  of  greater  value  in  Christian  lands 
than  in  non-Christian  lands.  It  is  claimed  by  good  au- 
thority that  the  intrinsic  value  of  soil  in  some  heathen 
lands  is  greater  than  in  America,  but  the  poorest  acre  in 
the  United  States  is  worth  more  than  five  of  the  richest 
in  Turkey.  Why  this  difference  in  value?  Christianity 
has  developed  such  principles  and  government  as  give 
protection,  while  in  Turkey  men  are  continually  exposed 
to  lawlessness,  confiscation,  and  death.  What  would  one 
give  for  a  house  and  lot  in  a  town  where  there  is  no  Sab- 
bath, or  Bible,  or  public  sanctuary,  with  the  assurance 
that  there  never  would  be?  It  is  the  influence  emanating 
from  the  church  that  produces  economic  conditions  that 
are  wholesome  and  inviting. 

The  influence  of  the  church  tends  to*economy.  It  costs 
more  to  care  for  the  results  of  sin  and  vice  than  it  does 
for  virtue.  It  costs  more  to  convict  a  criminal  than  it 
does  to  lead  him  in  right  paths.  vStatistics  fully  show- 
that  the  principles  of  righteousness  inculcated  by  the 
church  cost  much  less  than  the  crime  they  prevent.  What 
one  gives  to  the  building  up  of  such  institutions  redounds 
to  the  lessening  of  other  expenses.  It  is  evident  that, 
from  a  mere  economical  standpoint,  the  church  has  a 
claim  upon  our  resources. 


12  The  Better  Way 

But  the  giving  of  the  disciples  of  Jesus  should 
rest  upon  a  much  higher  and  holier  basis  than  this. 
Our  Lord  well  knew  what  an  influence  giving  would 
have  upon  the  lives  of  his  disciples !  He  knew  how  hard 
it  would  be  for  many  to  use  for  the  sake  of  others  that 
which  meant  so  much  sacrifice  to  them.  Hence  he  placed 
cheerful,  liberal  giving  among  the  graces  which  one 
should  earnestly  cultivate.  Our  selfishness  has  caused  us 
to  foster  the  idea  that  Jesus  is  so  absorbed  with  our  spir- 
itual and  eternal  welfare  that  he  takes  no  thought  as  to 
how  we  worship  him  with  our  substance.  A  brief  study 
of  the  Gospels  will  plainly  reveal  the  opposite  and  show 
the  importance  that  Jesus  placed  on  the  right  use  of  our 
substance. 

Supporting  the  Local  Church. 

Many  realize  that  they  are  under  obligations  to  the 
Lord  to  use  their  substance  for  the  work  of  the  kingdom, 
but  they  feel  that  they  are  free  to  use  their  funds  where 
and  how  they  choose.  They  do  not  understand  how  or 
why  they  should  be  obligated  to  a  local  church.  Li 
shedding  light  upon  this  very  important  questiou,  there 
is  space  to  give  only  a  few  of  the  many  reasons  that 
suggest  themselves  as  to  why  we  should  make  our 
offerings  through  the  local  church.  Among  those  most 
important  are : 

First.  Because  we  have  chosen  this  church  as  that 
portion  of  the  household  of  faith  to  which  our  lives  are 
to  be  given;  or  God,  through  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit   and   the   agency   of   this   church,   called   us   to   a 


In  Church  Finances  13 

knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  through  her  agency  we  have 
been  led  into  heirship  of  God,  and  joint  heirship  with 
Jesus  Christ,  and  into  an  inheritance  which  so  far  sur- 
passes anything  that  we  have  to  give  him,  that  we  should 
feel  highly  honored  to  lay  upon  her  altar  of  our  earthly 
substance  in  such  proportions  as  will  cause  her  to  be  a 
joy  in  the  earth,  and  enable  her  to  pass  on  to  others  the 
tidings  of  the  same  blessed  joy  and  privileges. 

Second.  We  pledged  to  her  our  loyalty  and  support 
when  we  were  accepted  into  her  fellowship.  We  are  now 
a  part  of  this  organization  and  are  so  regarded  by  all 
those  who  know  of  our  relation ;  her  humiliation  and 
failure  will  mean  our  humiliation.  If  her  obligations  are 
unpaid,  her  honesty  and  honor  are  compromised.  If  we 
withhold  our  support  she  will  fail  to  meet  the  require- 
ments upon  her  in  the  community  and  the  world  at  large. 
In  so  far  as  we  have  brought  this  upon  the  church  we 
are  responsible. 

Third.  The  benevolent  institutions  of  the  denomina- 
tion depend  on  her  membership  for  their  existence.  The 
institutions  of  learning  and  the  agencies  for  extending 
the  work  in  general  can  accomplish  their  purpose,  serve 
the  needs  of  this  generation,  and  meet  the  requirements 
resting  upon  them,  only  as  they  are  provided  with  the 
necessary  funds.  If  these  funds  do  not  come  from  the 
membership  there  is  no  source  from  which  they  can  come. 

Fourth.  It  will  save  the  church  from  adopting  second- 
ary and  worldly  methods  for  raising  money.  If  all  who 
have  taken  upon  themselves  the  vows  of  the  church 
would  adopt  the  scriptural   standard  of  contributing  to 


14  The  Better  Way 

the  work  of  the  kingdom,  all  questionable  and  humiliat- 
ing methods  would  be  eliminated.  John  Wanamaker 
says :  "Eighty  per  cent,  of  the  churches  are  able  to  care 
for  the  interests  of  the  kingdom  and  pay  their  pastors  a 
good  living  salary,  and  will  do  so  when  the  slipshod, 
spasmodic  ways  of  raising  money,  such  as  fairs,  festivals, 
and  suppers  are  given  up,  and  the  church  puts  her 
finances  on  a  business  and  scriptural  basis,  holding  her 
members  to  an  honest  fulfillment  of  their  vows  as  to 
giving."  These  methods  are  used,  not  because  men  feel 
that  they  are  an  advantage,  but  because  of  the  imperative 
need  of  funds.  Think  you,  that  He,  who  is  the  possessor 
of  heaven  and  earth,  who  owns  the  cattle  upon  the  thou- 
sand hills,  and  in  whose  right  are  all  the  treasures  of 
the  earth,  needs  such  devices  for  the  financing  of  his 
kingdom?  We  are  greatly  to  blame  if  we  fail  to  keep 
God's  requirements  as  to  giving  before  the  people.  We 
have  erred,  in  that  we  have  allowed  many  of  our  mem- 
bers to  believe  that  they  can  consecrate  themselves  to 
Him  without  consecrating  their  substance  to  his  service. 
No  sympathy  should  be  given  to  the  common  excuse 
that  people  do  not  have  the  money.  They  have  it  in 
abundance  and  are  lavishing  it  upon  things  that  minister 
to  their  pleasure.  God  has  given  to  the  church  all  the 
wealth  she  needs  for  the  task  committed  to  her.  I  fear 
some  of  her  members  are  like  the  agents  to  whom  were 
entrusted  large  sums  of  money  for  the  relief  of  the 
famine  sufferers  in  India.  They  were  given  large  sums 
of  money  to  feed  the  starving,  but  they  proved  untrue 
and  kept  the  money   for  themselves,  while  hudreds  of 


1)1  Church  Finances  15 

starving  creatures  died  under  their  eyes.  God  has  placed 
in  the  hands  of  those  whom  he  has  called  into  his  church, 
wealth  sufficient  to  give  the  Bread  of  Life  to  every  spirit- 
ually starving  soul.  Shall  we  keep  it  for  ourselves? 
Shall  we  spend  it  for  our  own  pleasure  and  let  the  many 
millions  for  whom  Christ  died  perish  for  the  want  of  the 
Bread  of  Life? 

Fifth.  Giving  through  the  local  church  is  better  than 
haphazard  giving.  The  danger  of  our  gifts  being  devoted 
to  doubtful  use  is  much  less,  for  usually  all  these  interests 
are  managed  by  a  careful,  conscientious  corps  of  workers 
who  feel  doubly  responsible  for  every  cent  that  passes 
through  their  hands. 

All  sorts  of  applications  come  to  a  generous  soul. 
Among  these  are  many  from  impostors.  Many  give 
indiscriminately  and  do  not  take  time  to  investigate,  sc 
that  when  real  need  comes  they  have  but  little  to  give. 
I  do  not  say  that  a  Christian  should  not  respond  to  any 
of  these  appeals,  but  I  do  say,  that  as  a  Christian  steward, 
he  should  exercise  care  and  be  sure  that  he  is  not  wast- 
ing his  Lord's  money.  One  can  waste  the  Lord's  money 
in  this  way  just  as  much  as  by  useless  expenditure.  We 
are  less  liable  to  do  this  if  we  make  our  offerings  through 
the  regular  channels  of  the  church. 

The  prayer  that  Andrew  Murray  gives  in  his  little 
tract  on  "Money  Giving,''  should  be  offered  by  all. 
'T)lessed  Lord  Jesus !  Teach  and  keep  us,  that,  like  Bar- 
nabas, we  may  lay  our  money  all  at  Thy  feet,  and  hold  it 
all  at  Thy  disposal.  Teach  and  keep  us,  that,  like  Peter, 
we  may  rejoice  in  the  poverty  that  teaches  us  to  prove 


16  The  Better  Way 

our  trust  in  the  power  of  Thy  Spirit.  Teach  and  keep 
us,  lest,  like  Ananias,  our  profession  of  living  entirely 
for  Thee  be  belied  by  our  giving.  Teach  and  keep  us, 
lest,  like  Simon,  we  think  the  gifts  of  God  or  power  over 
men  can  be  obtained  bv  monev." 


CHAPTER  II. 
THE  OFFICIAL  BOARD 

THE  official  board  is  the  organization  in  the  local 
church  to  which  we  must  look  for  the  manage- 
ment of  the  finances  of  the  congregation.  Upon  this 
body  will  rest  largely  her  financial  success  or  failure. 
How  to  supply  the  necessary  funds  for  the  work  of  the 
church  is  important  and  often  perplexing.  If  the  financial 
work  of  the  church  is  to  be  a  success,  her  faithful 
servants  wall  have  a  great  amount  of  thankless  labor  to 
perform. 

Those  most  deeply  interested  are  fully  realizing  that 
the  old  haphazard  ways  of  financing  the  church  will  not 
meet  the  enlarged  opportunities  and  responsibilities  placed 
upon  her.  Experience  has  taught  that  the  church  which 
systematizes  her  activities  is  the  most  successful.  Many 
churches  have  awakened  to  this  fact  and  are  moving 
along  very  encouragingly  in  other  particulars,  but  are 
found  limping  here. 

Better  Times. 

There  arc,  however,  better  times  just  ahead  for  our 
church  officers,  if  they  will  but  give  a  little  time  to  inves- 
tigate the  system  of  finance  that  is  now  so  successfully 
taking  the  place  of  the  old  in  many  of  our  churches. 
Churches  everywhere  have  been  compelled  to  grapple 
with    this    problem.     The    elements    that    enter    into   the 


18  The  Better  Way 

problem  are  mucli  the  same  everywhere.  It  will  devolve 
upon  the  official  board  to  create  such  conditions  as  will 
help  to  solve  the  problem.  Our  financial  failures  have 
led  to  the  developing  of  various  schemes  and  plans  to 
meet  the  conditions.  Some  of  these  have  served  for  a 
time,  but  have  not  solved  the  problem.  We  do  not  claim 
to  have  a  perfect  system  to  recommend,  but  it  is  the 
universal  experience  of  churches  which  have  carefully 
worked  it  out,  that  there  is  none  better  or  that  comes 
nearer  to  the  scriptural  idea  than  that  which  is  recom- 
mended in  this  little  volume. 

The  method  suggested  is  natural,  simple,  and  feasible, 
involving  but  slight  expense  and  little  machinery.  It  is 
adaptable  in  a  modified  form  to  all  classes  and  in  every 
church.  Give  it  a  trial  and  you  will  be  sure  to  continue 
it.  You  will  in  a  very  short  time  see  its  wholesome  and 
beneficial  effects  on  your  entire  church  life.  This  is  the 
testimony  of  churches  that  have  been  using  if. 

It  Works. 

We  are  not  presenting  to  you  a  theory,  but  a  system 
that  has  been  adopted  in  thousands  of  churches  and 
has  proved  very  beneficial.  Where  carefully  worked  it  is 
relieving  the  officials  of  much  anxiety  and  perplexity,  and 
is  turning  thousands  of  dollars  to  the  treasury  of  the 
church.  Personally  I  know  of  a  church  of  two  hundred 
members  of  very  ordinary  financial  ability,  who,  for  the 
past  five  years  by  the  using  of  the  system  here  recom- 
mended, have  been  able  to  pay  their  j^astor  an  average  sal- 
ary of  $1,350,  have  provided  for  all  their  current  expenses, 


In  Church  Finances  19 

paid  to  the  conference  their  assessments  in  full,  and  have 
given  for  missions  a  Httle  over  $1,000  per  year.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  they  liquidated  a  debt  of  $2,000  against  their 
church  property,  besides  putting  on  it  $500  in  repairs. 
This  can  be  repeated  in  any  church  if  the  system  of 
finances  recommended  in  this  httle  volume  is  adopted. 

*  Success  in  church  work  depends  in  a  much  larger 
degree  than  many  wish  to  allow  on  the  method  used. 
John  R.  Mott  says,  "The  reason  so  many  churches 
accomplish  so  little  for  the  world's  evangelization  is  be- 
cause they  have  no  adequate  plan,  and  because  they  have 
not  enlisted  the  men  combining  business  sense  with  mis- 
sionary spirit."  The  reason  we  have  so  many  struggling 
churches  is  because  we  do  not  put  the  same  business 
principles  into  our  church  management  that  we  employ  in 
our  other  affairs.  Methods  that  succeed  in  the  commer- 
cial world  are  the  result  of  well-thought-out  plans.  The 
underlying  principles  are  set  before  the  church  in  the 
Book  that  is  to  be  her  guide  in  every  act  and  thought, 
and  they  are  simple,  comprehensive,  and  practicable. 


The  Requisite  for  Success. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  those  who  have  charge 
of  the  finances  of  the  church  fully  comprehend  that  the 
church,  in  order  to  accomplish  her  task,  must  have  an 
adequate  income,  the  securing  of  which  devolves  largely 
on  the  persons  selected  bv  the  church  to  do  this  work. 
The  ofiicials  should  fully  realize  that  with  the  office  to 
which  they  have  been  elected  go,  not  only  the  honor,  but 


20  The  Better  Way 

also  the  responsibility  of  the  faithful  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  the  office.  Much  of  the  failure  of  the  work  of 
the  church  can  be  ascribed  to  the  non-recognition  of  this 
fact.     Especially  is  this  true  of  the  financial  work. 

The  officers  of  the  church  should  see  that  the  same 
thoughtful  care  and  workable  business  methods  enter  into 
the  management  of  the  church  as  into  their  own  business. 
Until  they  see  the  importance  of  this  and  put  it  into 
practice,  their  church  finances  will  suffer.  The  officers 
should  interest  themselves  in  the  financial  success  of  the 
church.  They  should  see  that  her  financial  interests  are 
presented  to  the  people  in  a  businesslike  way,  and  that 
systematic  methods  are  used  in  procuring  the  necessary 
funds  for  the  work  of*  the  church.  The  old  haphazard 
way  of  quarterly  or  annual  payments  will  no  longer  do. 
A  more  up-to-date  plan  is  necessary.  The  plan  that  will 
more  nearly  meet  the  demands  of  to-day  is  that  of  the 
New  Testament,  of  laying  aside  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week  as  the  Lord  has  prospered  us. 

The  members  of  the  board  themselves  should,  first  of 
all,  adopt  the  method  of  giving  which  they  desire  to 
recommend.  It  is  time  and  energy  wasted  for  any  official 
board  to  seek  to  introduce  among  the  people  a  plan  or 
principle  of  giving  which  they  do  not  themselves  heartily 
endorse  by  practice. 

They  should  patiently  plan,  wait,  and  pray  for  the 
success  of  the  system  recommended.  No  work  of  great 
value  was  ever  achieved  in  a  day,  especially  a  work  that 
has  set  over  against  it  the  combined  opposition  of  our 
individual  prejudice,  selfishness,  and  the  arch-enemy  of 


In  Church  Finances  21 

the  church,  who  well  knows  that  when  the  church  of 
Jesus  Christ  comes  to  this  orderly  plan  of  giving,  the 
powers  of  darkness  must  give  way.  They  should  not  be 
discouraged  if  the  plan  at  first  meets  with  little  favor. 
It  is  not  a  plan  of  Satan's  liking  and  will  undoubtedly 
meet  with  his  opposition. 

The  Pastor  and  the  Official  Board. 

The  pastor's  relation  to  the  official  board  is  a  unique 
one,  and  is  more  important  to  the  financial  welfare  of  the 
congregation  than  many  pastors  and  some  official  boards 
are  willing  to  admit.  Especially  is  this  true  in  the  smaller 
churches.  In  manv  of  the  churches  the  officials  are 
changed  so  often  that  they  are  not  acquainted  with  the 
work  in  its  entirety  as  they  should  be.  Many  are  so  full 
of  their  own  affairs  that  they  give  no  time  to  planning 
for  the  vrork  of  the  church,  and  consequently  when  they 
meet  for  business  they  lack  ideas  and  methods  for  the 
handling  of  the  finances  of  the  church  and  yet  are  ready 
for  some  well-thought-out  suggestions  from  a  leader,  even 
if  they  are  such  as  to  lay  some  burden  on  them.  The  ma- 
jority of  the  men  of  the  church  do  not  shrink  from  the 
tasks  put  upon  them  if  they  are  feasible.  They  hesitate 
to  go  forward  if  it  means  futile  effort.  The  first  thing  to 
be  done  in  many  churches  is  to  overcome  the  feeling  of 
hopelessness  that  is  paralyzing  those  who  are  responsible 
for  the  finances.  They  need  to  be  encouraged  by  infor- 
mation as  to  what  other  churches  with  similar  or  less 
ability  are  doing.  A  yoimg  pastor's  experience  is  sug- 
gestive.    He  says : 


22  The  Better  Way 

"I  accepted  a  church  of  three  hundred  members. 
Before  I  reached  my  new  charge,  three  of  the  richest 
men  died  and  the  mainstay  of  the  church  moved  to  a 
distant  city.  These  men  had  for  years  been  accustomed 
to  make  up  the  deficit  in  the  pastor's  salary  at  the  end^ 
of  the  year.  They  had  gone,  and  practically  all  their 
financial  support.  A  more  discouraged  ofhcial  board 
no  pastor  ever  faced  than  I  did  a  few  nights  after  reach- 
ing my  new  field  of  labor.  When  I  was  called  they  had 
depended  for  liberal  aid  from  the  brother  who  subse- 
ciuentl}^  decided  to  move  from  the  city.  There  seemed  to 
be  a  settled  conviction  that  a  serious  blunder  had  been 
made,  and  that  the  church  could  not  support  a  preacher 
with  a  family. 

"  'Brethren,'  I  said,  'there  are  still  two  hundred  and 
ninety-eight  members  in  our  church  and  there  is  not  a 
pauper  among  them.  It  is  true  that  a  large  majority  of 
this  number  are  women  and  children,  but  I  have  a  plan 
to  propose  that  will  enable  the  women  and  children  to 
support  your  pastor.'  I  outlined  the  envelope  plan. 
With  a  single  exception  the  board  was  of  the  unanimous 
opinion  that,  however  well  the  plan  might  work  elsewhere, 
it  would  never  work  in  this  church.  There  was  one 
aggressive  young  business  man  on  the  board  who  saw 
the  point,  caught  my  enthusiasm,  and  became  an  invalu- 
able ally.  The  outcome  of  the  matter  was  that  they 
consented  under  protest  to  adopt  the  plan,  I  agreeing  to 
bear  all  the  expense  incurred  in  securing  the  supplies. 
That  fifteen  or  twenty  dollars  paid  the  largest  returns  of 
any  investment  I  ever  made.     At  the  end  of  the  most 


In  Church  Finances  23 

successful  year  that  church  had  ever  known  in  its  history, 
the  amount  was  paid  back  to  me  with  compound  interest." 

The  Stewards. 

The  duties  of  the  stewards  laid  down  in  the  Book  of 
Discipline  are  plain,  but  possibly  do  not  cover  the  needs 
of  the  system  as  it  is  now  being  worked.  The  duties 
there  outlined  concern  only  the  collecting  of  the  funds. 
There  is  work  that  must  be  attended  to  in  advance  of 
this.  In  small  churches  it  is  possible  that  a  wisely 
selected  class  and  general  steward,  with  the  pastor  and 
chairman  of  the  missionary  or  benevolent  committee,  will 
be  all  the  solicitors  need  adequately  to  care  for  the 
finances. 

A  Finance  Committee. 

In  a  large  church  it  will  be  well  to  appoint  a  finance 
committee.  This  committee  should  be  wisely  chosen, 
making  either  the  general  steward  or  the  church  treas- 
urer the  chairman.  The  class  stewards,  the  chairman  of 
the  missionary  committee  of  the  local  church,  the  chair- 
man of  the  benevolent  committee,  the  pastor,  and 
possibly  a  representative  from  each  department  of  the 
church  should  constitute  this  committee,  and  to  them 
should  be  assigned  the  entire  charge  of  operating  the 
finances.  They  should  arrange  for  the  securing  of  the 
Ijledges  and  the  collecting  of  the  same.  This  committee 
stands  between  the  official  board  and  the  membership, 
and  needs,  first  of  all,  to  set  the  example  of  an  enthu- 
siastic interest  in  the  work.     Often  the  majority  of  the 


24  The  Better  Way 

membership  is  indifferent  because  of  the  careless  manner 
in  which  the  work  is  done. 

Keep  the  Congregation  Informed. 

The  membership  must  be  kept  informed  if  they  are  to 
be  enHsted  heartily  in  the  work  of  the  church.  The 
treasurer  can  greatly  help  by  giving  to  each  member  a 
quarterly  statement  of  his  standing,  as  well  as  a  financial 
report  of  the  congregation,  showing  receipts,  disburse- 
ments, deficit,  or  balance,  as  the  case  may  be.  This  will 
add  much  to  the  interest  and  enlist  many  who,  ordinarily 
do  not  pay  any  attention  to  the  financial  workings  of  the 
church. 

An  interest  can  be  awakened  by  having  an  occasional 
congregational  meeting  at  which  the  finances  as  well  as 
the  financial  plan  for  the  year  may  be  discussed.  It  will 
be  helpful  and  of  great  advantage  if  the  plan  is  carefully 
thought  over  and  thoroughly  canvassed  by  the  official 
board  and  by  them  adopted  before  bringing  it  to  the 
congregation.  At  the  congregational  meeting  the  entire 
plan  is  submitted  for  the  approval  of  the  members,  giving 
ample  opportunity  for  questions  and  discussion.  Many 
pastors  from  whom  we  have  reports,  who  have  been 
succeeding  in  working  better  systems  of  finance,  find  that 
this  is  the  most  helpful,  practical  way  of  enlisting^  the 
people.  Certainly  nothing  will  be  gained  by  keeping 
from  the  people  the  financial  condition  of  the  church,  or 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  system.  Much  information 
may  be  given  by  sending  to  each  member  a  carefully 
prepared  letter  in  which  the  financial  plan  and  method 
pf  working  it  are  well  outlined. 


In  Church  Finances  25 

Providing  Against  Deficiencies. 

Many  churches  are  embarrassed  by  a  deficit  at  the  end 
of  the  year,  the  causes  for  which  may  be  various.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  perplexing  problems  of  the  official 
l^oard.  The  old  way  of  expecting  the  annual  meeting  to 
ignore  all  obligationsYemaining  will  no  longer  work ;  min- 
isters, janitors,  and  others  expect  their  promised  salaries. 

To  obviate  this  deficiency,  be  sure  to  fix  the  budget 
sufficiently  large  to  cover  the  expenses  of  the  church. 
Do  not  stop  until  the  entire  expense  is  provided  for. 

The  Official  Board  and  Benevolences. 

The  official  board  should  supervise  the  raising  of  the 
benevolences.  They  should  see  to  it  that  every  member 
of  the  church  is  given  an  opportunity  to  make  a  sub- 
scription to  the  benevolent  interests  of  the  denomination 
to  be  paid  weekly,  or  monthly  at  least.  The  church  can 
not  succeed  by  allowing  these  great  interests  of  the  king- 
dom to  depend  on  the  amounts  that  individuals  will  feel 
inclined  to  give  in  a  single  offering.  It  will  be  readily 
seen  that,  should  local  conditions  be  unfavorable,  or  the 
appointed  day  be  stormy,  many  who  are  able  and  possibly 
willing  to  aid,  will  not  be  at  church  at  all.  If  the  address 
of  the  occasion  should  fail  to  ^tir  or  develop  sympathy, 
the  great  interest  sufifers.  If  we  should  put  the  benev- 
olences of  the  church  on  the  Bible  basis,  our  general 
secretaries  would  not  have  to  beg  like  little  children  for 
money  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  departments  entrusted 
to  them. 


26  The  Better  Way 

It  is  sadly  true  that  while  the  church  is  increasing  in 
riches,  it  is  not  increasing  in  its  gifts  per  capita  to  the 
benevolences  of  the  church.  There  may  be  many  reasons 
for  this,  but  one  or  two  that  are  prevalent  may  be  men- 
tioned : 

First.  Many  ministers  and  officials  are  entirely 
indifferent. 

Second.  Our  methods  for  providing  for  these  interests 
are  wrong  and  wholly  inadequate  for  the  expression  of 
the  ability  and  willingness  of  the  congregation.  I  per- 
sonally know  of  one  of  our  churches  of  one  hundred 
members  which  gave  an  average  of  seventy-five  cents  per 
member  under  one  pastor;  another  came,  and  they  did 
not  give  a  single  dollar.  This  would  not  have  happened 
if  the  official  members  had  been  interested  in  operating 
the  raising  of  the  benevolences  of  the  church.  I  have 
in  mind  a  church  which  gave  $350  per  year  for  mis- 
sions under  one  pastor ;  another  pastor  came  who  enlisted 
the  members  of  the  board  in  the  benevolent  interests  of 
the  denomination,  and  before  six  months  passed  they  had 
more  than  $2,500  subscribed  for  missions.  We  are  con- 
fident that  if  the  official  board  of  the  church  will  join  the 
pastor  they  can  organize  the  work  so  that  it  will  result 
in  an  increased  interest  and  a  better  method  on  the  part 
of  the  church  for  the  financing  of  these  interests.  By  all 
means  let  there  be  a  system — it  will  be  as  valuable  in 
raising  the  benevolences  of  the  church  as  in  any  other 
work. 


CHAPTER  III. 
THE  ENVELOPE  SYSTEM 

THE  snpportii^c:  of  the  local  church  in  many  places  is 
a  serious  problem.  The  difficulty  lies  largely  in  the 
method,  or  rather  in  the  lack  of  method  used  in  enlisting 
the  membership  in  paying.  In  many  congregations  the 
majority  do  absolutely  nothing,  or  pay  so  little  that  they 
never  feel  it,  nor  become  interested  in  the  work  of  the 
church.  This  is  absolutely  wrong.  The  method  used  has 
permitted  many  to  believe  that  they  are  under  no  obliga- 
tion financially,  although  they  expect  to  enjoy  the  advan- 
tages and  privileges  of  the  church.  These  same  persons 
will  join  other  organizations  such  as  fraternities,  where 
they  will  have  a  good  stiff  admission  fee  to  pay  with  large 
monthly  dues  thereafter,  and  they  respond  cheerfully, 
accepting  the  system  in  vogue. 

Often  we  charge  our  people  with  a  spirit  of  illiberality, 
when  it  is  not  so  much  a  question  of  liberality  as  of  sys- 
tem. There  is  lacking  some  workable  system  by  which 
their  liberality  may  be  expressed. 

System  in  Giving. 

By  systematic  giving  is  meant  giving  according  to  a 
plan  or  system.  The  teachings  of  Paul  clearly  set  this 
forth  as  the  New  Testament  plan  of  church  support.  In 
I.  Corinthians  9:7-14,  the  apostle  mentions  the  method 

27 


28  The  Better  Way 

of  ministerial  support.  He  says,  "Know  ye  not,  that  they 
who  minister  about  sacred  things,  eat  of  the  things  of 
the  temple,  and  they  who  wait  upon  the  altar  have  their 
portion  with  the  altar?  Even  so  did  the  Lord  ordain  that 
the}-  who  proclaim  the  gospel  should  live  of  the  gospel." 
Those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  gifts  of  the  altar 
remember  that  they  were  the  tithes  and  freewill  offerings 
of  the  people.  Paul  declares  that  Jesus  taught  that  the 
New  Testament  minister  was  to  live  from  these  same 
offerings.  The  manner  for  providing  for  benevolences 
is  clearly  set  forth  in  I.  Corinthians  16:  1,  2,  where  the 
apostle  says :  "As  I  gave  orders  to  the  churches  of 
Galatia,  so  also  do  ye,  Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
let  each  one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  he  may 
pro?]:)er,  that  no  collections  be  made  when  I  come." 

The  Plan  Suggested. 

The  plan  suggested  is  the  carrying  out  of  this  simple 
New  Testament  requirement  of  an  offering  week  by 
week.  There  are  agencies  which,  if  introduced,  will 
simplify  and  aid  in  doing  this.  The  method  which  is  giv- 
ing the  greatest  satisfaction  and  is  most  effectual  in  car- 
rying forward  this  New  Testament  standard  of  church 
support,  is  that  of  the  envelope  system  on  the  zveekly  basis 
plan.  While  in  some  sections  of  the  church  the  use  of 
envelopes  has  proven  unsatisfactory,  it  is  because  they 
have  not  been  adjusted  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  system. 

The  Envelope  Recommended. 

The  envelope  system  recommended  for  the  financing 
of  the  church  is  to  provide  each  member  with  a  package 


1)1  Church  Finances  29 

of  fifty-two  envelopes,  numbered  and  dated  to  correspond 
with  each  Sunday  of  the  year.   The  following  is  a  sample : 

No.     45  FEB.  13,  1910 


Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ 

GREENSBURG,  PA. 

WEEKLY  OFFERING. 


For  Current  Expenses 
Amount    !5 


For  Missions 
Home Foreign. 


"Let  each  one  of  you  (IndividuallyUay  b.y  him  in  store  upon  the  first 
day  of  the  week  (Systematically)  as  he  may  prosper."  (Proportionately) 
1  Cor.  16:2. 


This  is  not  an.  untried  scheme  of  restless,  energetic  lead- 
ers in  church  affairs.  It  is  the  most  practical,  simple,  and 
successful  plan  that  has  yet  been  operated.  It  has  been  in 
use  long  enough  to  have  passed  its  experimental  stage, 
and  has  proven  its  real  worth.  This  plan  is  easily  under- 
stood and  worked,  and  is  universally  applicable  in  some 
of  its  modified  forms. 

I  do  not  wish  to  seem  extravagant,  but  the  envelope 
system  here  recommended  is  so  simple  and  practical  that, 
when  properly  worked,  it  meets  all  the  requirements  that 
are  known  to  exist  for  a  successful  financial  system.  It 
is  not  to  be  expected  that  a  mere  system  will  convert 
niggardliness  into  generosity,  but  it  does  all  that  can  be 
expected  in  facilitating  the  contributions  of  the  congre- 


30  The  Better  Way 

gation.     This  will  be  readily  seen  when  we  examine  the 
basis  on  which  it  rests. 

Why  Use  the  Envelot'e  System  ? 

Because  it  is  the  best.  Some  years  ago,  the  Church 
Economist,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Henry  R.  Elliott, 
made  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  various  systems  of 
raising  church  finances.  It  found  a  number  of  good  plans, 
buj  the  one  that  gave  the  greatest  satisfaction  was  that 
of  the  envelope  system  here  recommended.  In  the  inves- 
tigation a  set  of  inquiries  was  sent  out  to  the  represen- 
tative churches  of  all  denominations  in  various  parts  of 
the  country,  inquiring  about  the  acceptability  and  effect 
on  receipts ;  also,  the  rate  of  subscription  to  the  member- 
ship, etc.  From  the  tabulated  returns  and  extracts  culled 
from  the  remarks,  one  is  readily  convinced  of  the 
efficiency  of  the  system.  The  most  recent  returns  we 
have  in  this  office  from  the  churches  in  which  it  has  had 
a  fair  test,  fully  warrant  the  statement  that  it  is  the 
best,  and  will  work  a  complete  transformation  in  the 
finances  of  the  church  where  it  is  given  a  fair  trial.  It 
can  hardly  be  said  that  the  system  has  had  a  fair  trial 
with  the  church  at  large,  as  there  are  so  few  who  have 
worked  it  out  in  its  details. 

Mr.  Elliott,  in  speaking  of  the  system  some  six  years 
ago,  said :  'The  principle  is  sound  and  the  results  are 
substantial.  I  had  occasion  some  time  ago  to  study  its 
operation  in  some  two  hundred  churches.  All  gained  in 
receipts,  and  the  lowest  rate  of  increase  in  income,  leav- 
ing out  a  few  abnormal  cases,  was  about  forty  per  cent. 


In  Church  Finances  31 

In  many  cases  the  receipts  were  doubled  ...  In  this 
system  giving  is  Hfted  above  spasms  and  whims,  and  is 
independent  of  the  weather,  the  seasons,  and  the  state  of 
our  health.  It  teaches  one  to  deal  in  the  large  with 
Christian  stewardship,  and  soon  inspires  a  wholesome 
contempt  for  claptrap  and  trickery  in  church  support. 
...  It  can  be  relied  upon.  As  a  rule,  wherever  tried 
it  succeeds,  because  it  is  based  upon  the  almost  universal 
business  scheme  of  small,  regular  payments  at  frequent 
intervals.  In  the  use  of  the  system  we  are  applying  to 
church  finances  the  most  familiar  principles  of  secular 
income.  The  wage-earner  is  insistent  upon  weekly  pay- 
ments. Commercial  interests  are  adjusting  their  business 
on  this  basis.  Why  should  the  support  of  the  Gospel  be 
left  to  the  passing  emotions,  or  haphazard,  do-as-you- 
please  methods?" 

The  Advantages  of  This  System. 

This  is  the  ideal  system,  for  it  associates  the  oflfer- 
ing  of  the  individual  with  his  worship,  and  if  it  is  freely 
stimulated  an.d  directed  from  the  pulpit,  it  will  relieve  the 
financing  of  the  church  from  all  semblance  to  a  burden. 

This  system  broadens  the  base  of  supply,  it  appeals  to 
the  responsive  heart.  It  gives  a  training  in  the  habits  of 
systematic  giving  the  results  of  which,  in  money,  may 
not  be  reckoned  at  once,  but  are  sure  to  be  marked. 
It  brings  one  in  spirit  to  the  fellowship  and  com- 
munion of  the  apostolic  method  of  church  support.  It 
develops  the  church  to  such  a  standard  that  she  will  be 
able  to  carry  out  the  objectives  of  the  various  benevolent 


32  The  Better  Way 

societies  in  the  tasks  they  have  undertaken  in  the  work 
of  the  kingdom.  It  will  lead  to  a  larger  number  of  pro- 
portionate givers. 

It  affords  an  excellent  opportunity  for  the  poor  to  give 
their  mite  without  having  it  held  in  contrast  with  the 
gifts  of  those  who  have  been  able  to  give  more  gener- 
ously. It  will  greatly  add  to  the  true  spirit  of  giving, 
for  under  this  system,  A  will  not  give  because  B  does, 
or  give  to  outdo  C,  or  give  that  his  name  may  be  seen 
at  the  head  of  the  list  to  be  seen  of  men ;  Jesus  said  of 
giving  to  be  seen  of  men,  that  when  men  see  the  gift, 
"verily  they  have  their  reward." 

This  system  will  gather  and  consecrate  the  small  gifts 
from  the  many  and  the  large  gifts  from  the  few,  and 
will  lead  to  a  more  fairly  proportionate  giving  on  the  part 
of  the  Christians  of  large  means.  It  will  cause  all  more 
carefully  to  weigh  their  giving  to  the  Lord's  treasury. 
Money  for  benevolences  as  well  as  current  expenses 
will  be  had  when  needed.  The  church  will  not  be 
embarrassed  by  debt.  The  pastor's  salary  will  be  paid 
and  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  many  who  turn 
aside  from  the  ministry  because  of  the  meager  •  support, 
will  be  saved  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  the  church ; 
and,  best  of  all,  the  spiritual  life  of  the  church  will  be 
greatly  strengthened. 

This  system  gathers  the  small  gifts  from  the  many  and 
swells  them  into  a  large  volume,  for  nine  persons  out  of 
every  ten  find  it  easier  to  give  twenty-five  cents  a  week 
than  to  give  thirteen  dollars  a  year.  It  will  be  easier  to 
give  one  dollar  every  week  than  to  give  thirteen  once  a 


In  Churcli  Finances  oZ 

quarter,  or  fifty-two  dollars  at  one  time.  By  the  present 
system  the  few  give  and  not  the  many.  What  the  church 
needs  to-day  is  to  keep  the  small  rills  of  benevolences 
flowing  in  order  that  tlie  large  stream  may  take  on 
larger  proportions.  The  Roman  Catholic  Church  builds 
its  large  cathedrals  and  maintains  its  large  charities 
by  the  gifts  of  working  men  and  servant  girls.  While 
with  them  the  demands  are  often  oppressive,  yet  the 
principle  is  correct.  Those,  who  by  a  small  gift  week 
by  week  would  give  a  nice  sum  in  a  year,  would  shrink 
from  putting  down  their  names  for  a  small  sum  to  be 
paid  at  one  collection.  Under  the  iVew  Testament  system 
every  one  is  expected  to  give.  The  teachings  of  Jesus  on 
this  subject  are  very  plain.  The  parables  of  the  talents 
and  the  pounds  were  used  by  Jesus  to  show  that  God 
expects  from  every  one  of  us  a  direct  and  personal  return 
according  to  the  amount  of  his  property.  I  fear  that 
when  we  speak  of  devoting  our  "talents"  to  the  Lord, 
we  do  not  take  the  literal  meaning  of  the  word.  It  means 
money.  There  are  so  few  professed  Christians  to-day 
who  have  any  plan  in  their  givin<. 

This  system  will  save  one  from  giving  under  impulse, 
or  under  excitement,  or  when  he  n  erely  feels  like  it.  The 
apostle  in  his  instructions  to  the  ?hurches  of  Galatia  and 
Corinth  commands  the  adoption  of  systematic,  business- 
like principles.  Paley  says,  "I  understand  Paul  to  be  here 
recommending  the  very  thing  that  is  wanting  in  so  many 
men  to-day — that  of  being  charitable  upon  a  plan." 

It  will  afford  an  excellent  opportunity  for  the  develop- 
ing of  the  true  spirit  of  giving  in  children.     Under  this 


34  The  Better  Way 

system  of  every  member  ^'iving'  in  place  of  the  father 
making  the  offering  for  the  entire  family,  it  will  be 
divided  among  the  members,  thereby  developing  in  the 
life  of  the  boys  and  girls  a  habit  which  will  be  a  blessing 
in  coming  years. 

Under  this  system  contributors  can  and  do  give  more 
largely  to  the  work  of  the  church  with  the  least  possible 
strain  upon  their  purses.  The  children  of  this  world 
fully  realize  the  advantages  of  this  system.  Industrial 
insurance  companies  are  protecting  thousands  of  people 
l)y  the  weekly  or  monthly  payment  plan,  who  could  carry 
no  protection  whatever  if  the  entire  policy  had  to  be 
paid  in  a  single  payment.  Great  house-furnishers  have 
adopted  the  policy  of  the  weekly  payment  because  they 
have  learned  that  many  families  can  furnish  their  homes 
on  this  basis  who  could  not  do  so  under  any  other  plan. 

It  will  save  the  congregation  from  that  dreadful 

"Agony  Day." 

-Most  of  the  churches  have  special  days.  There  is  one 
that  rightly  can  be  called  ''Agony  Day."  It  is  the  day 
near  the  close  of  the  year  when  the  treasurer  makes  his 
report  showing  an  embarrassing  deficiency,  and  when  the 
pastor  or  some  other  official  gets  out  the  blackboard,  or 
by  some  other  agonizing  scheme  tries  to  get  the  people 
to  make  up  the  deficiency.  This  I  am  sure  the  reader  will 
agree  is  no  misnomer  for  this  day,  if  you  have  ever  passed 
through  the  ordeal.  One  thing  that  adds  to  the  outrage 
of  the  occasion  is,  that  the  persons  who  have  been  faith- 


In  Church  Finances  v35 

ful  and  the  most  liberal  in  giving,  are  the  ones  who  have 
to  meet  the  deficiency.  Happy  the  church,  indeed,  which 
does  not  know  of  such  experiences.  Happier  still,  the 
pastor  and  otificial  members  who  have  been  blessed  with 
a  system  that  saved  the  treasurer  and  officials  from  these 
days  of  agony  when  the  bills  come  in  and  there  are  no 
funds  with  which  to  meet  them.  What  we  are  anxious 
for  is  to  introduce  a  system  that  will  prevent  Agony  Sun- 
day. This  plan,  if  carried  out,  will  not  only  relieve  the 
church  of  this  miserable  day,  but  will  relieve  the  treas- 
urer, stewards,  and  officials  of  oft-repeated  embarrass- 
ment because  of  the  failure  of  the  method  now  in  vog^ue. 


'fc>' 


Quickened  Life. 

It  will  enable  home  mission  churches  to  become  self- 
supporting,  and  the  church  more  speedily  to  give  the 
whole  Gospel  to  the  whole  world,  and  best  of  all,  the 
spiritual  life  of  the  church  will  be  greatly  quickened  and 
strengthened.  There  will  be  a  consecration  of  possessions 
to  God  for  the  service  of  the  church  and  our  fellows  that 
will  lead  many  professed  followers  of  Christ  to  a  deeper 
Christian  experience.  It  will  enable  the  church  to  apply 
the  principles  of  Christ's  teachings  to  the  social  problems 
of  our  day.  Thousands  of  working  men  are  standing 
aloof  from  the  church  because  they  think  that  her  mem- 
bership is  as  selfish  as  others  and  will  readily  stoop  to 
questionable  methods  if  it  will  only  swell  their  fortunes. 

It  will  bring  us  into  such  vital  and  frequent  fellowship 
with  God  that  we  shall  see  the  work  of  the  kingdom 
through  his  eyes.     We  shall  soon  be  so  moved  by  the 


36  The  Better  Way 

want  and  woe  of  niankind  that  we  shall  find  it  easy  to 
give,  and  correspondingly  hard  to  keep  from  giving.  By 
this  system  of  giving  we  shall  soon  find  ourselves  sharing 
in  the  travail  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  crying,  "Lo,  I  come 
to  do  thv  will,  O  God." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

WORKING  THE  PLAN 

THE  envelope  swstem  will  not  run  itself.  It  will  not 
guarantee  a  full  treasury,  but  it  will  keep  the 
treasury  from  being  empty  if  it  is  worked.  The  first  step 
lo  successful  operation  is 

Organization. 

Organization  is  putting  new  life  into  almost  every 
(le])artment  of  the  aggressive  church  of  to-day.  The 
'>xce])tion  in  the  organization  of  her  activities,  if  there  be 
any,  is  in  the  finances.  Churches  that  are  enterprising 
in.  other  lines  of  activity  are  found  limping  here !  We  ha-'l 
with  delight  the  revolution  in  the  financial  policies  of 
many  of  our  local  churches.  Experience  is  teaching  that 
careful  organization  lends  much  to  the  success  of  the 
proposed  financial  system.  The  persons  through  whom 
this  system  is  to  be  introduced  are  the  regular  officials 
of  the  church,  but  they  must  organize  and  plan  the  work 
if  it  is  to  be  a  success.  The  first  step  necessary  after  the 
official  board  has  settled  upon  a  plan  is  the  fixing  of  a 

Budget. 

The  pastor  and  proper  officials  should  meet  and  make 
up  a  budget  of  all  the  expenses  for  the  year,  including 
pastor's  salary,  presiding  elder's  salary,  music,  fuel,  light, 

37 


38  The  Better  Way 

janitor's  service,  interest,  repairs,  and  other  items  of 
expense.  To  this  should  be  added  at  least  five  per  cent, 
to  cover  any  shrinkage  in  subscriptions.  After  the 
budget  is  fixed  it  should  be  brought  before  the  congre- 
gation to  be  considered  and  adopted  by  formal  action. 

Many  churches  desire  but  a  single  budget  for  all  their 
financial  interests.  The  local  committee  on  home  and 
foreign  missions  should  have  their  goal  set  and  present 
it  to  the  finance  committee  or  the  official  board  at  their 
regular  meeting.  This  committee  or  official  board  should 
approve  or  amend  this  report,  and  with  the  other  have 
it  submitted  to  the  congregation  for  their  approval.  The 
total  budget  is  to  be  reduced  to  a  weekly  basis,  and  pro- 
vision made  for  the  same  according  to  the  plans  that  shall 
be  adopted  by  the  financial  board  of  the  church. 

Secure  a  Pledge. 

There  are  a  number  of  items  that  enter  into  the  oper- 
ation of  a  financial  system  that  dare  not  be  overlooked 
or  disregarded  if  the  system,  is  to  prove  successful. 
Among  these  I  place  first,  the  securing  from  each  member 
an  annual  pledge,  on  the  weekly  basis,  of  such  an  amoimt 
as  will  be  an  equitable  portion  of  his  share  of  the  budget 
of  the  church.  This  is  of  vital  importance  for  the  suc- 
cessful carrying  out  of  this  plan.  If  a  member  can  give 
but  one  penny  a  week,  he  should  be  led  to  cooperate  in 
the  system. 

The  pledge  is  essential  because  there  are  so  many  indi- 
viduals who  will  be  very  careless' unless  their  obligation 
is  emphasized.    Each  member  should  be  made  to  feel  that 


Iti  Church  Fin  cm  CCS  39 

when  he  entered  the  church  he  obhgated  himself  to  do 
just  what  is  now  asked  of  him — to  contribute  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  Gospel  as  the  Lord  has  prospered  him. 

Ways  That  Win. 

A  plan  that  has  worked  with  great  success  in  some 
places  is  for  the  pastor  or  general  steward  to  invite  ten  or 
more  of  the  key  men  of  the  church  to  his  home  as  a  com- 
mittee. This  committee  takes  up  the  various  causes  which 
the  church  is  to  support,  fixes  the  amount  of  the  budget, 
then  divides  the  membership  of  the  church  into  as  many 
classes  or  groups  as  necessary,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year  each  one  of  the  committee  makes  a  canvass  of  every 
member  in  his  class,  calling  to  his  assistance  one  or  more 
helpers  if  necessary.  One  church  says  this  plan  has 
resulted  in  the  doubling  of  its  benevolences  in  two  years. 

The  following  plan  has  proven  a  success :  Give  to  each 
of  ten  stewards  of  a  church,  say,  of  five  hundred 
members,  a  list  of  fifty  persons  for  whom  he  is 
responsible.  Let  each  of  these  ten  have  five  individual 
subordinates;  these  may  be  men,  women,  or  young  people 
who  will  each  have  nine  peo]~)le  for  whom  he  is  responsi- 
ble. The  general  steward  will  do  his  work  through  his 
captains  of  fifties,  and  the  captains  of  fifties  through  their 
lieutenants.  In  this  way  the  entire  membership  will  be 
in  close  touch  with  the  work.  The  same  plan  can  be 
followed  out  in  a  larger  or  smaller  church  by  simply 
increasing  or  decreasing  the  captains  over  fifties,  or  one 
h.nndrcds  if  preferable.  There  will  be  a  double  advantage 
in   this — it   will    bring   into   close  touch   and    keep    inter- 


40  The  Better  Way 

cstcd  aiul  cause  to  share  in  the  responsibiHty  of  the 
church  a  lart^e  number  of  persons.  It  will  aid,  further, 
in  developing  and  bringing  to  the  front  individuals 
for  the  management  of  these  interests  who  otherwise 
might  have  been  allowed  to  lie  dormant,  and  the  church 
thereby  lose  their  tact  and  ability  in  this  particular. 

Another  plan  that  has  worked  most  admirably  is  the 
following:  The  finance  committee  estimated  the  expense 
for  the  year,  then  apportioned  the  amount  among  the 
members,  printed  an  apportionment-sheet  explaining  the 
plan,  giving  a  list  of  the  members,  and  the  amount  of 
the  apportionment  of  each.  On  a  certain  day  the  lists 
were  distributed,  the  people  were  given  time  to  read  them 
over,  and  then  the  meeting  was  turned  into  a  round  table 
service,  and  it  resulted  in  one  of  the  best  and  most  en- 
thusiastic services  of  the  year — not  a  dissenting  voice  was 
raised  to  this  apportioning  and  many  good  words  were 
spoken.  This  was  followed  up  by  a  coniplete  financial 
statement  once  a  quarter  or  as  often  as  the  board  thought 
necessary.  The  people  are  more  and  more  pleased  with 
the  system  and  would  not  think  of  going  back  to  the  ol  1 
hit-or-miss  plan. 

A  Pastor  Who  Led  the  Way. 

A  church  in  which  the  usual  plan  of  quarterly 
collections  and  settlements  was  in  vogue  was  revo- 
lutionized by  a  pastor  who  had  a  vision  of  the  church's 
possibilities.  In  this  church  the  finances  were  in  a  deplor- 
able condition.  The  pastor's  salary  was  unpaid,  janitor 
fees,  light  and   fuel  bills  were  pressing,  and  everything 


In  Church  Finances  41 

financial  was  out  of  joint  and  discouragement  reigned. 
This  tactful  pastor  discovered  that  not  more  than  one-half 
of  the  membership  whose  names  were  on  the  roll  were 
contributing  anything,  and  but  a  few  of  those  who  did 
contribute,  gave  any  stated  sum.  He  determined 
upon  financial  reform  at  once.  With  the  approval  of 
the  quarterly  conference  he  visited  every  member  whose 
name  was  on  the  roll  of  the  church — old  and  young,  male 
and  female,  rich  and  poor — and  secured  his  or  her  vol- 
untary pledge  to  contribute  a  fixed  sum  weekly  to  the 
support  of  the  church.  Not  a  single  member  in  the  entire 
congregation  refused  to  pledge  a  larger  or  smaller 
amount.  Of  course,  the  pastor  used  his  kindly  offices  to 
secure  as  large  a  pledge  as  the  circumstances  of  each 
case  would  justify.  This  canvass  being  completed,  a 
scries  of  envelopes  for  a  full  quarter  were  put  into  the 
hands  of  every  contributor.  On  the  front  of  the  envel- 
opes was  written  his  name,  the  amount  of  the  weekly 
pledge,  and  the  date  successively  of  the  Sundays  of  the 
quarter,  with  the  instructions  to  enclose  in  each  the 
amount  of  the  weekly  offering  and  drop  it  into  the  con- 
tribution box  when  the  collection  was  taken.  Of  course 
the  series  of  envelopes  must  be  renewed  each  quarter. 
We  would  suggest  the  use  of  the  envelope  recommended 
l)y  the  commission — sufticient  in  a  carton  for  each  Sun- 
day in  the  year. 

Another  pastor  tells  how  the  finances  in  his  church 
were  revolutionized.  He  says:  "We  prepared  a  carefully 
worded  card  on  which  the  board  placed  the  name  and  the 
amount  they  hoped  the  member  would  be  able  to  con- 


42  The  Better  Way 

tribute  to  the  bncl^et,  week  by  week,  during  the  year;  at 
the  same  time  stating  that  if  the  amount  indicated  was 
not  satisfactory,  he  should  feel  free  to  either  increase  or 
diminish  it.  A  coupon  was  attached  to  each  card  for  that 
purpose,  silence  -on  the  part  of  the  member  being  regarded 
as  an  acceptance  of  the  apportionment." 

*'When  the  board  met  to  make  the  apportionment  and 
we  came  to  the  first  family  represented  by  its  head,  who 
was  on  the  board,  there  was  a  halt.  'Why,  I  always  con- 
tribute,' said  the  brother,  'for  my  wafe  and  children. 
What  is  the  use  of  assessing  them?'  Perhaps  twenty 
minutes  w^ere  spent  as  I  presented  my  argument  and 
showed  that  the  beauty  of  the  system  was  that  it 
reached  every  member — that  the  children  needed  to  be 
trained  in  giving,  as  in  other  graces,  etc.  The  appor- 
tionment was  made  and  so  on  through  the  list.  I  insisted 
that  the  apportionment  be  made  on  a  w^eekly  basis.  In- 
stead of  assessing  a  brother  ten  dollars  a  year,  I  made 
it  twenty  cents  a  week.  'Why,'  he  said,  'I  can  pay  more 
than  twenty  cents  a  week.'  Why,  of  course  you  can,  and 
vou  will  do  it,  too.  How  nuich  shall  we  make  it?  'Fifty 
cents,'  was  the  answer." 

"With  the  apportionment  card  was  sent  a  circular 
letter  setting  forth  the  plan,  emphasizing  its  scriptural- 
ness,  and  urging  the  cooperation  of  every  member.  A 
package  of  fifty-tw^o  envelopes,  numbered  and  dated  for 
each  Sunday  in  the  year,  was  supplied  each  member. 
The  immediate  result  was  most  gratifying.  Not  onlv  did 
a  sum  sufficient  to  meet  all  demands  come  in,  but  there 
was  a  quickening  of  interest  in  all  the  work  of  the  church. 


In  Church  Finances  43 

There  was  a  rapid  growth  of  the  con:^regation  and  in 
five  months  we  were  in  the  midst  of  the  most  gracious 
revival  the  church  had  known  for  forty  years." 

Doctor  Strong  says :  ''Any  church  can  do  much  if  it 
will  do  it.  The  thing  that  succeeds  in  one  place  and  fails 
in  another  is  more  because  of  the  man  than  the  plan." 

Suggested  Forms. 

A  letter  something  like  the  following  will  be  found 
helpful  in  introducing  this  system. 

To  the  Members  of U.  B.  Church : 

We  are  anxious  to  introduce  into  our  local  church  a 
S3^stem  of  finance  that  will  more  adequately  meet  the 
demands  of  our  local  congregation.  Your  board  of 
stewards  and  finance  committee  have  been  carefully  con- 
sidering systems  that  are  in  use  and  succeeding  in  various 
churches.  For  our  local  needs  we  have  decided  that  the 
following  will  be  the  most  practical,  namely,  that  of 
budgeting  the  entire  expense  of  the  local  congregation 
which  is  explained  in  the  following  statement: 

After  careful  consideration  we  have  concluded  that  the 

expenses  of  our  church  will  be  about  $ for  the 

year;  divided  as  follows:     Minister's  salary,  $ ; 

music,  $ :  fuel,  light,  water,  su])plies,  $ ; 

janitor,  $ ;  sundries,  $ ;  insurance,  $ ; 

total,  $ 

In  the  plan  which  we  are  seeking  to  introduce  there 
are  many  advantages  which  we  are  sure  will  meet  with 
your  hearty  approval.     The  system  has  this  strong  argu- 


44  The  Better  Way 

v^v\\{  in  its  favor,  it  reaches  every  mcml^er  and  invites 
In'ni  to  share  the  responsibiHty  of  our  church  support 
:;n(l  management. 

We  most  earnestly  solicit  every  member  prayerfully 
to  consider  the  obligation  of  the  church  to  the  various 
needs,  and  after  prayerful,  thoughtful  consideration, 
make  a  weekly  pledge  of  such  an  amount  as  will  be  his 
equitable  share,  according  to  his  ability,  of  the  entire 
amount  that  is  to  be  raised.  The  pledge  is  to  be  paid 
weekly,  if  possible,  through  the  envelopes  furnished  for 
that  purpose. 

We  have  taken  honest  pride  as  a  church  in  paying  our 
])ills  promptly,  and  it  is  important  that  we  continue  this 
practice.  This  can  be  done  only  as  the  membership 
responds  to  the  plan  outlined  and  suggested.  We  trust 
that  each  one  will  bring  his  offering  to  the  church,  anrl 
if  for  any  reason  he  is  unable  to  do  so,  will  make  up  the 
deficiency  at  the  very  earliest  possible  date. 

In  this  system  every  member  will  be  known  bv  a  num- 
ber. Your  number  on  the  church  record  will  be  the  sam^^ 
as  the  one  on  the  carton  of  envelopes  that  will  be  handed 
to  you.  You  will  therefore  remember  that  to  have  credit 
for  your  offering,  it  should  be  placed  in  the  envelope 
bearing  'your  number.  Money  dropped  in  llie  basket 
loose  will  not  be  credited  to  any  one.  A  quarterly  state- 
ment will  be  sent  to  each  member  showing  his  financial 
standing  as  indicated  on  the  treasurer's  record. 

Thanking  you  for  your  liberal  cooperation  in  the  past, 
and  trusting  that  this  new  system  will  meet  with  your 
heartv  approval,  and  that  the  year  to  come  may  surpass 


Ill  ChnrcJi  Finances  45 

any  former  year  in  our  church  history  in  spiritual  and 
financial  results,  we  are, 

Faithfully, 

Your  Finance  Committee, 

Quarterly  Statement, 

We  are  very  grateful  for  your  cooperation  in  the 
work  of  our  beloved  church,  and  are  confident 
you  will  be  glad  to  know  the  following  facts  for 
the  quarter  ending 

Receipts.  Expenditures. 

Pledges   $ Salaries  $ 

Collections   .  .  .  .  $ Light  and  Fuel  $ 

Individual  Gifts  $ Repairs    $ 

Balance  and  Incidentals    .  . . .  $ 

Carried  Over  $ 


Total,  $ Total.  $, 

We  now  have  a  deficit   of   $ 

W^e  now  have  a  balance  of  $ 

Your  pledge  was.  .- $ 

You  have  paid  this  quarter  $ 

Total  paid  this  year $ 

(Signed) 


Financial  Secretary. 

Prayer, 

Rev.  C.  H.  Yatman  says,  "Every  church  has  as  much 
right  to  pray  for  gold  as  for  grace,"    Two  things  at  least 


46  The  Better  Way 

are  necessary  to  carry  on  Christian  work,  gold  and  grace, 
and  God  will  give  both  if  you  ask  him  in  the  right  way. 
To  get  grace  we  go  direct  to  God  and  it  is  given  us  by 
Jesus  Christ  through  the  Holy  Spirit.  This  is  the  way 
to  get  grace — with  gold  it  is  different.  You  go  to  God 
for  it,  and  he  gives  it  by  his  providence  and  people.  A 
great  many  people  never  pray  for  gold  in  their  Christian 
work.  This  is  wrong.  Men  think  they  own  the  purse 
and  hold  the  strings,  but  Haggai  2 :  8,  says  not  so.  A 
spiritual  church  will  never  lack  funds.  Now,  to  raise  the 
money  for  any  needed  work  you  first  find  what  the  Bible 
says  about  temporal  blessings.  Search  out  the  promises 
that  bear  that  way.  Mark  the  words  of  the  Book  which 
speak  about  giving.  (Prov.  2:24,  25;  Ex.  25  and  35; 
II.  Cor.  9:6,  7;  Luke  6:  38,  and  many  more).  See  what 
stress  God  lays  upon  provisions  for  the  carrying  on  of 
his  work.  Paul's  great  ''Resurrection  Chapter,"  is  fol- 
lowed immediately  by  these  words,  *'Now,  concerning  the 
collection." 

If  the  congregation  is  to  be  thoroughly  aroused  and 
developed  in  the  Bible  method  of  giving,  and  if  we  are 
to  have  the  Holy  Spirit's  direction  in  our  church  finances, 
more  time  must  be  given  to  prayer  for  these  interests. 
Prayer  as  an  essential  in  the  financial  management  of  the 
church  is  all  too  frequently  overlooked.  In  many  cases 
where  a  financial  crisis  is  confronted,  the  church  resorts 
to  schemes,  and  frequently  to  questionable  methods 
of  raising  money,  but  scarcely  ever  are  the  people  called 
upon  to  lay  their  needs  before  God.  It  would  be  well  in 
developing  the  church  in  the  Bible  method  of  finance  to 


In  Church  Finances  47 

have  an  occasional  stewardship  prayer-meeting,  when  the 
entire  membership  of  the  church  might  call  upon  God 
for  his  guidance  in  the  financial  department  of  the  work. 
If  this  were  more  frequently  resorted  to,  our  financial 
difficulties  would  be  much  fewer.  John  R.  ]\[ott  says, 
"If  we  made  the  obtaining  of  funds  as  much  the  subject 
of  prayer  as  we  are  in  the  habit  of  making  it  a  subject 
of  discussion  and  planning,  we  would  have  all  the  money 
we  need  for  the  carrying  on  of  the  work."  If  this  state- 
ment is  true,  we  surely  have  the  key  to  the  situation  in 
our  own  hands.  It  is  extremely  important  that  the  church 
frequently  call  upon  the  Lord  that  she  may  be  divinely 
directed  in  her  financial  plans.  To  change  the  uncon- 
scious selfishness  in  the  many  indifferent  church  mem- 
bers, means  a  new  conversion.  To  make  genuine  Chris- 
tian stewards  of  men  and  women — stewards  who  will 
work  in  partnership  with  God  and  pay  as  he  prospers 
them,  and  prayerfully  use  their  snbstance  for  the  advanc- 
ing of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  implies  a  divine 
transformation.  This  can  never  be  effected  by  anything 
but  the  Spirit  of  God.  Much  prayer  will  be  necessary 
on  the  part  of  those  who  have  this  work  in  hand. 

R^.MixDixG  Delinquents. 

If  the  pled^^e  is  unpaid  after  a  reasonable  time  of  wait- 
ing, the  individvial  should  be  visited  by  the  committee 
who  has  this  in  charge.  The  matter  of  plans  that  will 
work  without  friction  in  this  particular  is  difficult  in  the 
extreme.  All  that  some  people  need  is  to  be  reminded  of 
their  pledges  nnd  they  will  pny  them.  Statements  by  mail 
mpy  serve  this  purpose. 


4cS  The  Better  Way 

A  Successful  Plan. 

One  gives  the  following  plan  which  he  says  reduced  the 
unpaid  pledges  to  about  one  and  one-half  i)er  cent,  of  the 
entire  amount  pledged.  About  twice  a  year  a  statement 
of  the  financial  condition  of  the  church  and  of  each  mem- 
ber was  made.  The  name  of  each  member  was  published, 
and  running  side  by  side  with  the  names  were  three  col- 
umns with  headings : 

Name.            Wkly.  Pledge.  Amt.Pd.  Amt.Due. 

John  Davis    $0.25  $5.50         $1.00 

Jane  Smith 50  13.00 

James  Brown 10  2.60 

It  might  be  well  for  the  first  statement  to  put  the  num- 
bers as  they  appear  on  the  treasurer's  book  in  place  of 
the  names.  With  the  statement  a-  report  of  the  church 
treasurer,  showing  receipts,  disbursements,  deficit  or  bal- 
ance, should  go  without  fail.  '  This  gives  the  membership 
of  the  church  the  information  they  should  have.  These 
statements  could  be  sent  by  mail  to  each  member. 

A  drastic  reminder  that  the  writer  has  known  of  is 
to  post  the  names  of  delinquents  in  the  vestibule  where 
all  who  pass  may  read.  Such  a  plan  may  be  too  severe 
for  most  places,  but  the  same  plan  can  be  carried  out  1)y 
putting  the  number  of  the  contributor  in  place  of  the 
name,  although  this  may  not  be  quite  so  effective.  It 
could  be  published  in  the  church  bulletin,  or  in  a  circu- 
lar letter  for  distribution  something  after  the  form  of  the 
f  ollowinf2' : 


In  ChurcJi  Finances  49 

Quarterly  Financial  Statement. 

Quarter  Endiii::^- 

Amount  due  on  pledi^es  Sunday 

No.   1  Amount  due   $0.50 

No.  2 

No.  3   5.00 

No.  4  Overpaid    1.00 

No.  5  i\mount  due 10 

No.  6 

No.  7   55 

The  vestibule  plan  in  a  modified  form  was  used  quite 
successfully  in  a  church  in  Peru,  Indiana,  where  the 
pastor  had  prepared  a  chart  with  places  to  correspond  to 
the  number  of  members  in  the  church,  and  opposite  each 
number  were  fifty-two  squares  where  a  star  was  placed 
indicatinc^  that  the  offering  had  been  made  for  that  Sun- 
day by  the  individual  represented  by  the  number  in  the 
first  column.  This  readily  shows  how  many  are  contrib- 
utincf,  also  indicating  to  the  individual  bearing  that  num- 
ber wh.ethcr  his  con'ri])utions  are  up  to  date. 


I 


CHAPTER  V. 
HOW  IT  WORKS  WHEN  WORKED 

T  may  be  difficult  to  outline  a  plan  and  give  sugges- 
tions that  will  meet  the  conditions  that  exist  in  every 
locality.  1  here  must  be  some  plan  and  the  one  suggested 
in  some  modified  form  will  meet  the  requirements  of  anv 
local  church. 

The  purpose  of  this  chapter  is  to  give  a  glimpse  of  how 
others  see  it,  and  the  experiences  of  pastors  from  various 
parts  of  the  church,  and  the  conditions  of  charges  where 
this  system  has  been  worked. 

As  Presiding  Elders  See  it. 

Rev.  W.  E.  Snyder,  Cory  don,  Indiana: 

I  used  the  weekly  system  the  last  two  years  of  my 
pastoral  ^work  and  found  it  very  successful.  It  took  time 
to  get  it  started,  but  it  would  be  harder  for  the  church 
now  to  go  back  to  the  old  way.  The  new  is  scriptural, 
dignified,  and  businesslike.  It  is  the  thing  and  should  be 
everlastingly  insisted  upon,  though  people  generally  will 
have  to  grow  up  to  it. 

A.  C.  Siddell,  Superintendent  of  Sandusky  Conference, 

Find! ay,  Ohio: 

Hicksville  Circuit  paid  their  pastor  $300  and  a  par- 
sonage. This  year  they  paid  their  pastor  $600  and  a 
parsonace,  an^l    I   am  informed  that   they  paid  the  $600 

50 


1)1   Church  Finances  51 

easier  than  the  $300,  because  the}-  adopted  better  methods. 
Our  ministers  will  receive  almost  $6,000  more  this  year 
than  last. 

C.    W.    Kurtz,    Snpcrinicndcnt    of    Miami    Conference, 

Day  I  on,  Ohio: 

My  observation  is  that  wherever  the  budget  system  is 
used  and  worked,  and  weekly  offerings  are  made  unto 
the  Lord  for  all  the  interests  of  the  church,  the  people 
have  a  broader  view  of  the  church  work,  more  money 
can  be  secured,  and  a  larger  number  of  people  can  meet 
their  obligations  promptly  and  easier  than  any  other  way. 

Rev.  J.  A.  F.  King,  Presiding  Elder  of  Northern  Illinois 

Conference: 

There  is  no  method  that  has  proved  successful  under 
my  observation  save  the  Bible  plan  of  tithing.  That  has 
proved  successful  in  every  instance  where  it  has  been 
practiced. 

Doctor    ll\uJiinger,    Presidijig    Elder    of    Pennsyhania 

Conference: 

The  fields  of  labor  reporting  deficiencies  of  salaries, 
conference  assessments,  benevolences,  and  those  which 
-find  it  difficult  to  keep  up  with  the  procession,  are  those 
which  have  little  or  no  system,  or  fail  to  perfect  the  sys- 
tematic way  of  giving.  I  have  observed  that  pastors  who 
urge  their  people  to  give  for  Christ's  sake,  and  who 
emphasize  his  rightful  authority  over  the  purses  as  well 
as  the  hearts  of  the  people,  make  good  each  year.  The 
divine  rule  intensely  and  strenuously  practiced,  as  well 
as  the  time  and  measure  of  giving,  will  prove  the  panacea 


52  The  Better  Way 

for  all  our  financial  ills.  I  have  learned  in  these  years 
that  the  divine  plan  for  doing  anything  is  infinitely  the 
best  and  safest  plan  for  any  church. 

How  It  Worked  Where  Tried  by  Pastors. 

Rev.  M.   K.  Ricliardson,  Second   Cluirch,  Indianapolis, 

Indiana: 

This  small  mission  church  last  year  gave  their  pastor 
$212.  In  September  I  came,  and  at  once  introduced  the 
weekly  system  of  giving.  This  year  I  am  trying  the 
budget  system  on  pastor's  salary,  presiding  elder's  salary, 
and  local  expenses.  I  have  had  to  make  a  house-to-house 
canvass.  Thus  far  eighteen  members  are  giving,  but  some 
of  them  only  give  to  the  pastor's  salary.  But  on  the 
whole  the  system  is  working,  for  in  four  months  they 
liave  paid  me  more  money  than  they  paid  in  twelve 
months  last  year.  I  shall  change  the  budget  this  fall  and 
include  everything  but  the  new  church  proposition.  I 
shall  preach  on  each  proposition  separately.  It  is  my 
plan  to  put  the  envelopes  in  every  home,  and  if  any  one 
is  absent  for  four  Sundays,  have  a  steward  call  on  him 
and  get  the  money. 

Rev.  I.  IV.  Oiven,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  writes: 

We  use  the  duplex  system — budget  and  envelopes.  In 
one  we  put  all  the  current  expenses  of  the  church  ;  in  the 
other,  benevolences,  including  all  free-will  ofiferings,  and 
conference  assessments.  We  make  an  estimate  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year  as  to  how  much  we  ought  to  give 
to  each  interest.    This  is  the  second  year  the  system  has 


In  ChurcJi  finances  53 

been  used  and  it  works  like  a  charm.  Last  year  was  the 
first  the  pastor  received  his  salary  in  full  before  going  to 
conference,  and  left  a  balance  in  the  treasury.  This  year 
my  salary  is  paid  in  full  and  in  advance  for  the  first  five 
months  of  the  conference  year.  Last  year  we  had  some 
who  did  not  fall  in  line ;  this  year  there  are  no  kickers. 
Some  are  giving  under  this  system  who  gave  nothing 
before,  and  the  results  show  that  some  are  certainly  giv- 
ing more. 

Rev.  H.  M.  Miller,  Pennbrook,  Pcnnsyhania,  zvrites: 

We  use  the  budget  system  and  include  everything  and 
find  that  it  works  very  well.  My  people  like  it  and  are 
raising  more  than  twice  as  much  money  as  previously. 
They  say  they  know  now  that  when  the  pastor  comes 
to  see  them  he  is  not  coming  for  money.  All  our  finances 
are  up  to  date.  I  introduced  it  by  first  presenting  it  to 
the  official  board,  and  after  they  adopted  it  I  presented 
it  to  the  congregation.  We  made  up  a  budget  and  made 
an  estimate  of  how  much  each  one  was  expected  to  pay, 
and  a  committee  saw^  every  member.  The  stewards  fol- 
lowed up  the  work.  We  use  the  monthly  system  of  giv- 
ing, but  next  year  we  expect  to  adopt  the  weekly  system. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Bonehrake,  Danville,  Illinois,  has  a  broad  con- 
ception of  this  plan  after  two  years'  trial.  He  says  : 
We  have  two  budgets.  L  All  incidental  expenses, 
pastor's  and  presiding  elder's  salaries.  2.  Missions.  It 
stimulates  church  finances  on  a  religious  basis.  I  think 
one  budget  the  ideal  way,  but  we  have  not  reached  that 
vet.     We  have  worked  it  two  \cars  and  it  works  like  a 


54  The  Better  Way 

charm.  I  took  the  matter  up  with  my  official  board.  We 
prayed  over  it,  and  they  were  glad  to  adopt  it.  Our 
stewards  meet  bi-monthly  and  look  after  the  delinquents. 
Our  finances  are  better  than  they  have  ever  been.  The 
people  give  more  and  a  better  spirit  prevails. 

Rev.  M.  O.  McLaughlin,  Omaha,  Nebraska: 

We  include  everything  in  the  budget.  All  home  claims 
as  home  missions  and  all  foreign  claims  as  foreign  mis- 
sions. We  have  used  this  system  since  the  organization 
of  the  church  May  24,  1908.  It  works  well.  Ours  is  a 
mission  church  and  we  adopted  it  from  the  beginning.  I 
know  of  no  other  way  to  accomplish  this  purpose  than  to 
educate  and  urge  God's  plan.  A  lady  who  knows  the 
inside  workings  of  one  of  the  largest  churches  in  Omaha 
said,  when  I  told  her  how  much  our  people  contributed, 
that  there  was  not  a  member  in  their  church  who  gave 
as  much. 

Rev.  R.  R.  Rhodes,  IVornileysburg,  Pennslyvania: 

We  use  the  budget  system  because  of  the  splendid 
results.  We  have  used  this  system  two  years  and  it 
works  splendidly.  We  introduced  it  by  a  unanimous 
adoption  of  the  official  board.  We  followed  up  the  work 
by  regularly  appointed  stewards  and  a  lively  general 
steward  who  follows  up  delinquents.  Nearly  all  have 
increased  their  contributions,  and  their  gifts  exceed 
those  of  others  of  like  financial  circumstances. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Hamilton,  Rosezvood,  Ohio: 

We  have  used  the  budget  system  for  local  interests  for 
about  five  vears,  and  for  conference  assessments   about 


///   ChurcJi  Finances  55 

twenty-one  years.  It  is  by  far  the  best  plan  1  have 
found.  I  introduced  it  through  the  official  board  and 
then  followed  up  the  work  by  earnest  personal  efifort. 
Those  who  use  this  system  give  more  than  formerly,  and 
they  always  give  more  than  others  of  similar  financial 
circumstances. 

Rcz'.  L.  l'\  Sanderson,  Russell,  Kansas: 

I  introduced  the  system  first  by  preaching  on  Chris- 
tian Stewardship,  and  God  blessed  us  in  this  service. 
Then  our  finance  committee  estimated  the  expense  of  our 
church  for  the  year  and  apportioned  the  amount  among 
the  members.  We  printed  a  finance  committee  apportion- 
ment-sheet explaining  the  plan,  and  giving  the  list  of 
names  and  the  amount  of  apportionment  to  each.  On 
the  day  we  distributed  these  lists  we  gave  the  people 
time  to  read  them  over,  and  turned  the  meeting  into  a 
round-table  service,  and  it  resulted  in  one  of  the  best  and 
most  enthusiastic  services  of  the  year.  Not  a  dissenting 
voice  was  raised,  and  many,  many  good  words  were  spo- 
ken. We  follow  this  work  up  by  a  com])lete  financial 
statement  once  a  quarter  or  as  often  as  the  board  sees  fit. 

Rez'.  W.  Z.  Roberts,  Rnssell,  Kaiisas: 

We  have  used  this  system  for  one  and  one-half  \ears 
and  it  works  splendidly.  All  the  running  expenses  of  the 
church,  including  pastor's  salary,  presiding-  cider's  salary, 
janitor's  salarv,  etc..  have  been  met  in  full  to  date,  and 
last  ^Fonday  nioht  the  treasurer  reported  $147.50  remain- 
ing in  the  treasur\-.  The  system  was  introduced  through 
the  official  hoard,  tlie  board  adopting  it.     Then  we  sent 


56  The  Better  Way 

■  out  solicitors  who  secured  pledges  from  members  and 
friends  of  the  church,  to  be  paid  weekly,  and  placed  in 
each  home  where  pledges  were  secured,  fifty-two  envel- 
opes, one  for  each  Sunday  in  the  year.  Some  pay  more 
than  formerly,  and  some  who  paid  nothing  are  paying 
ten  and  fifteen  cents  per  week.  Only  a  few  have  declined 
to  pay  weekly,  and  those  who  pay  quarterly  are  not  pay- 
ing as  much  according  to  their  ability  as  those  paying 
weekly. 

Rev.  H.  L.  Snyder,  Chaiiute,  Kansas: 

We  include  in  the  budget  all  current  expenses,  pastor's 
and  presiding  elder's  salary,  and  chart  assessments.  We 
raise  church  erection  and  missionary  money  by  free-will 
offerings.  Missions  are  provide^l  for  through  the  Sun- 
day-school offering  sometime  during  the  year,  and  church 
erection  through  an  Easter  oft'ering  of  the  Sunday  school 
and  a  special  offering  after  an  address  on  the  subject. 
This  is  the  second  year  w^e  have  used  the  budget  system. 

Rez'.  IV.  L.  Perkins,  Casey,  Illinois,  uses  this  system  in 
his  Sunday  school.  He  says :  "We  have  two  budgets — 
one  for  all  local  expenses  and  one  for  benevolences.  We 
have  worked  the  first  budget  three  years  and  the  other 
only  this  year.  They  are  both  successful  and  educational. 
They  work  well  considering  the  time  in  vogue.  I  intro- 
duced it  first  to  the  official  board,  then  to  the  church,  and 
then  to  the  Sunday  school.  T  followed  up  th^  work  by 
personal  solicitation  of  those  not  giving  systematically. 
Those  using  this  system  give  more  than  formerly  and  at 
lea^t  rlouble  the  amount  that  others  i^^ive. 


///   Church  Finances  57 

Sr.niniing  up  tlic  results : 

I'^vcry  menilxr  of  the  church  is  made  a  voluntary  con- 
irihutor. 

It  equalizes  the  financial  burdens  of  the  church. 

It  increases  the  general  interest  in  the  church  and  cre- 
ates a  sense  of  participation  in  church  affairs,  and  co- 
operation. 

It  serves  to  keep  an  exact  record  of  the  member's 
financial  standing  with  the  church  ;  if  for  any  cause  he 
should  be  absent  from  the  service  on  a  Sabbath  the  fact 
is  indicated  by  the  date  on  his  envelope,  and  tw^o 
enclosures  of  the  pledge  amount  is  made  on  the  next 
Sunday. 

In  those  families  where  there  are  several  children,  it 
increases  the  family  contribution  by  about  one-half  and 
cases  the  burden  because  of  the  additional  effort  of  the 
}-oun'T:er  members  of  the  household  to  do  their  part.  In 
one  instance  a  girl  of  only  nine  years,  and  the  youngest  of 
a  large  family  of  children  who  had  been  received  into 
the  church,  pledged  five  cents  a  week  and  paid  it  faith- 
fully, too,  out  of  her  own  earnings  during  the  week,  and 
gloried  in  doing  it. 

It  reaches  families  who  are  accustomed  to  paying 
nothing  at  all.  In  one  instance  a  mother  and  two  chil- 
dren pledged  five  cents  each  per  week,  and  paid  it  with 
a  relish,  and  thus  nearly  eight  dollars  a  year  was  secured 
from  a  family  who  formerly  gave  nothing. 

It  cultivates  the  habit  of  giving  and  a  feeling  of  re- 
sponsibility in  the  young  and  in  all  new  converts. 

It    increases    the    attendance    at    the    church    services, 


58  The  Better  Way 

l^romotes  good  feeling,  relieves  the  church  of  financial 
embarrassment,  and  opens  the  way  to  a  larger  and  more 
spiritual  work. 

Of  course  there  will  be  delinquents,  but  they  must  be 
promptly  looked  after  at  the  end  of  each  month.  It  is 
not  the  exact  form  of  this  plan  which  works  well,  or  any 
other  particular  plan  that  we  insist  upon  ;  but  the  system, 
whatever  it  is,  shall  include  and  enforce  the  responsibility 
of  every  individual  member  of  the  church,  whatever  his 
age  or  station,  to  bear  his  proportionate  share  in  the 
support  of  the  church  and  God's  cause. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HINTS  TO  STEWARDS  AND  SOLICITORS 

THE  success  of  any  financial  system  depends  very 
largely  on  the  persons  who  have  the  work  in 
charge.  The  success  of  the  one  recommended  by  General 
Conference  will  depend  very  largely  on  the  work  of  the 
stewards  and  solicitors. 

Enthusiasm. 

The  work  should  be  taken  hold  of  enthusiastically.  If 
it  is  handled  carelessh^  and  indifferently  by  those  to 
whom  it  is  committed,  it  goes  without  saying  that  those 
on  whom  they  depend  for  the  support  of  the  policy  will 
be  indifferent. 

Enlisting  the  Congregation. 

One  of  the  most  essential  elements  to  success  in  the 
financial  management  of  a  congregation  is  the  enlisting 
of  the  congregation.  If  the  church  is  to  perform  her  full 
duty  in  this  particular,  the  entire  body  must  be  enlisted. 
Every  member  should  be  made  to  feel  that  when  he 
entered  the  church  he  obligated  himself  to  assist  in  bear- 
ing the  financial  burden  of  the  congregption.  He  prom- 
ised, or  pledged  himself  to  God  and  the  church,  that  he 
would  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  church  as  God 
had  prospered  him.  It  will  be  necessary  occasionally  to 
remind  the  membership  of  this  covenant,  and  then  show 

59 


60  The  Better  Way 

thcni  how  tlie\-  may  be  able  to  meet  their  obHgations. 
I'liere  may  be  an  occasional  church  which  can  succeed 
without  the  entire  membership  being  enlisted — a  rich 
member  or  two  may  pay  most  of  the  bills,  but  such  a 
])olicy  is  very  detrimental.  The  most  successful  church 
in  every  way  is  the  cooperative  church — that  is,  the  church 
whose  work  is  promoted  by  the  small  but  regular  gifts  of 
the  greater  number  of  its  members. 

This  is  Fundamental 

The  enlisting  of  the  membership  of  a  church  in  her 
financi  ;1  responsibilities  is  fundamental  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  her  work.  The  congregation  should  have  their 
responsibility  made  very  plain  to  them,  and  be  made  to 
realize  that  the  prosperity  of  the  church,  spiritually  and 
financially,  is  waiting  upon  a  more  thorough  and  exten- 
sive cooperation  of  every  member  in  the  financial  system 
which  God  has  ordered  in  his  Word.  It  should  be  plainly 
shown  that  an  ordinary  congregation  can  easily  support 
the  interests  of  the  church  by  a  hearty  cooperation  and 
adoption  of  the  New  Testament  system  of  giving.  They 
should  be  shown  that  this  orderly  system  gets  more 
money  and  gets  it  easier,  gets  more  people  to  give  and 
gets  them  easier,  as  well  as  brings  greater  blessing  to 
the  giver  and  the  cause  given  to,  than  any  other  method. 
The  church  must  be  awakened  to  the  fact  that  this  sys- 
tem is  the  only  method  by  which  we  can  hope  adequately 
to  finance  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ  and  carry  forward 
her  work  of  giving  tlie  Gos])el  to  all  the  world. 


In  ChurcJi  Finances  61 


Thorough  Training. 


I  am  persuaded  that  to  enlist  the  congregation  it  will 
be  necessary  to  give  a  thorough  course  of  teaching  in  tlie 
fundamental  principles  of  Christian  stewardship.  The 
masses  of  our  church  members  have  not  been  awakened 
to  the  fact  that  God  is  the  absolute  owner  of  everything, 
and  that  they  are  but  stewards,  and  that  what  they  hold 
is  but  a  trust  for  which  they  will  have  to  render  an 
account.  They  do  not  appreciate  the  responsibility  rest- 
ing upon  them  in  this  particular.  They  must  be  led  to 
see  this  before  the  true  principle  and  system  of  giving 
will  grip  them.  The  pastor  will  be  responsible,  tactfully 
and  lovingly,  to  give  the  needed  information  by  preach- 
ing on  subjects  that  will  lead  to  the  awakening  of  the 
church  in  this  particular.  Such  subjects  as  "Love's  Debt 
to  God,"  'The  Elements  of  a  Growing  Church,"  'The 
Grace  of  Giving,"  "Divine  Ownership,"  and  kindred 
subjects. 

Church  Aroused. 

A  certain  church  was  aroused  by  a  thorough  campaign 
of  education;  this  church  advanced  from  $125  to  $1,000 
for  benevolences  with  fine  increase  for  current  expenses. 
This  campaign,  covering  a  period  of  six  months,  included 
two  sermons  on  giving  (one  by  a  neighboring  minister), 
a  sermon  on  the  financial  support  of  the  church,  five  ser- 
mons and  addresses  on  missions  by  visiting  missionaries 
and  others,  a  "Church  Official  Day"  (the  climax),  when 
six  officers  used  the  morning  service  with  well-thought- 


62  The  Better  Way 

out  talks.  Also,  the  new  plan  was  discussed  in  several 
meetings  of  the  official  board,  printed  matter  was  dis- 
tributed, and  follow-up  letters  were  sent  to  every 
member. 

There  is  no  better  way  of  awakening  interest  and 
enlisting  the  church  in  her  financial  obligation  than  by 
bringing  to  the  membership  intelligent,  workable  plans 
for  carrying  forward  this  interest.  The  one  system  that 
has  proven  most  successful  is  that  of  the  weekly  offering 
of  every  member  both  for  current  expenses  and  for  gen- 
eral benevolences.  It  has  been  an  agreeable  surprise  to 
many  who  are  working  this  system,  how  the  church  re- 
sponds and  rallies  to  the  call  of  her  leaders.  The  results 
that  have  been  obtained  in  other  churches  can  be  realized 
in  yours,  if  you  desire  to  introduce  a  workable  plan. 

A  pastor  says :  '*We  enlisted  our  people  by  showing: 
them  what  they  could  do.  We  have  a  church  of  two 
hundred  members,  and  we  enlisted  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five,  who  gave  as  follows : 

5  members  gave  $1.00  per  week  or  $260.00  per  year. 
20  members  gave  .50  per  week  or  520.00  per  year. 
25  members  gave  .25  per  week  or  325.00  per  year. 
20  members  gave  .  1 5  per  week  or  1 56 .  00  per  year. 
30  members  gave  .10  per  week  or  156.00  per  year. 
25  members  gave       .05  per  week  or       65.00  per  year. 


Thus  125  members  gave  annually  $1,482.00 

The  Solicitors. 

The  solicitor  should  have  a  conscience  in  this  matter, 
anrl  as  it  ^r\\^s  him  he  will  see  it  taking  hold  of  those  he 


In  Church  Finances  63 

is  to  lead,  and  upon  whose  cooperation  he  must  depend 
for  the  success  of  the  plan.  The  solicitors  should  not 
complain  or  scold  if  the  members  do  not  do  what  they 
think  they  should;  take  time  to  show  them  the  privilege 
of  their  partnership  with  God  in  the  great  task  of  world 
winning.  Hold  up  lofty  ideals  and  deal  gently  with  the 
careless  and  indifferent.  Never  go  whining  among  the 
people  about  the  apportionment  from  the  various  boards 
being  too  high,  or  the  current  expenses  being  too  heavy. 
If  any  adjusting  in  this  line  is  needed,  do  it  at  your  board 
meeting. 

Secure  a  Pledge. 

It  is  of  greater  importance  to  the  success  of  the  plan 
than  one  may  at  first  think,  to  have  every  member 
indicate  in  advance  by  a  distinct  pledge  or  statement  of 
purpose,  what  he  is  willing  to  do  toward  bearing  the 
financial  burden  of  the  church.  To  accomplish  this, 
much  will  depend  on  the  solicitors.  We  will  venture  a 
few  suggestions  that  may  be  of  some  help  to  those  who 
have  this  work  to  do. 

Solicitors  should  pledge  themselves.  Do  not  ask  others 
to  do  so  until  you  have  set  the  example.  One  of  the 
largest  collections  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures  is  spoken 
of  in  I.  Chronicles,  twenty-ninth  chapter.  In  this  we  get 
the  order  of  giving  and  the  result  of  proper  leadership. 

In  the  solicitation  no  one  should  be  omitted,  active  or 
inactive,  resident  or  non-resident,  child  or  adult.  An 
effort  should  be  made  to  have  families  divide  their  offer- 
ings,  something  being  subscribed   in   the   name   of  each 


64  The  Better  Way 

individual.  The  moral  effect  will  be  most  hclpfnl,  1:>e  the 
offering  ever  so  small. 

The  solicitor  should  state  to  every  member  on  his  list 
the  total  amount  per  week  required  to  meet  the  expenses 
of  the  church.  He  should  first  seek  to  have  each  person 
pledge  an  amount  that  he  thinks  would  be  an  equitable 
share  to  pay  week  by  week.  If  the  amount  suggested  is 
such  that  the  solicitor  feels  it  would  not  be  a  proper 
share,  he  should  state  at  this  time  what,  in  the  judgment 
of  the  finance  committee,  would  be  a  reasonable  an.iount, 
and  seek  to  have  them  assume  the  same.  When  appor- 
tionments are  made,  the  committee  should,  use  care  and 
tact  when  the  apportioning  to  each  individual  is  done; 
they  should  seek  for  all  the  necessary  information,  always 
taking  into  account  the  income,  circumstances,  and  the 
general  financial  ability  of  the  family  or  individual. 

The  most  successful  way  of  securing  pledges  is  by 
personal  visitation  by  tactful,  consecrated  solicitors. 
Many  people  do  not  take  kindly  to  solicitations  sent 
through  the  mail.  This  is  especially  true  in  country  dis- 
tricts where  people  are  on  very  familiar  terms  with  one 
another. 

The  personal  solicitation  plan  is  preferable  because 
when  objections  or  questions  arise  they  can  be  more 
easily  met  and  answered.  This  may  seem  like  a  very 
great  task  in  a  large  church,  but  the  labor  can  be  divided 
and  systematized  so  that  it  will  not  become  a  burden  to 
the  workers. 

Division  of  Labor. 
Great    care    should    be    exercised    in    dividing    up    the 
membership   among  the   solicitors   that   the   best   results 


In  Church  Finances  65 

may  be  obtained.  There  are  several  plans  that  might  be 
successfully  followed.  One  is  to  divide  the  church  geo- 
graphically ;  another  is  to  divide  the  membership  alpha- 
betically; and  still  another  is  to  have  the  solicitor  choose 
from  among  the  names  those  from  whom  he  is  likely  to 
secure  the  best  results. 

Meeting  Objections  to  Pledging. 

The  question  of  pledging  with  many  conscientious 
Christians  becomes  a  serious  one.  Some  are  thought- 
fully considering  whether  it  is  right  for  Christians  to 
make  pledges  in  advance  of  their  gifts,  even  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  church  and  the  cause  of  missions.  Many 
contend  that  they  should  give  only  of  that  which  they 
actually  have,  and  in  no  way  make  provision  for  this  in 
their  planning  and  getting. 

Have  we  any  scriptural  authority  for  our  pledge  sys- 
tem ?  It  seems  to  me  to  be  clear,  from  Paul's  instruction 
to  the  Corinthians  in  his  chapter  on  giving,  that  such 
principles  and  plans  were  arranged  for.  "And  herein  I 
give  mv  judgment;  for  this  is  expedient  for  you,  who 
were  first  to  make  a  beginning  a  year  ago,  not  only  to 
do,  but  also  to  will."  (TI.  Corinthians  8:  10.)  It  is  evi- 
dent that  these  believers  had  made  arrangements  for  their 
giving  in  advance.  Here  the  apostle  shows  that  a  pledge 
had  been  taken ;  now  he  is  exhorting  them  that  they  per- 
form the  doing  of  that  wliich  they  were  willing  to  under- 
take. Also,  in  II.  Corinthians  9:  5,  he  teaches  us  that  he 
"thought  it  necessary  that  he  exhort  the  brethren  that 
they  would  go  before  unto  you  and  make  up  the  bounty 
whereof  you  have  had  notice  before,"  or  as  the  margin 


66  The  Better  Way 

expresses  it,  "which  has  been  so  much  spoken  of  before." 
It  is  evident  from  these  Scriptures  that  there  had  been 
much  planning  and  preparation  for  these  offerings  in 
advance.  It  is  seen  that  some  eminent  brother  had  gone 
before  to  lay  the  matter  upon  their  hearts  and  make  full 
preparation  for  the  offering.  They  had  purposed  for  a 
whole  year  to  make  this  offering,  and  now  he  calls  them 
to  make  good  their  purpose. 

The  purpose  of  the  pledge  system  is  to  lay  upon  the 
hearts  and  consciences  of  the  people  the  needs  and  claims 
of  Christ,  and  then  have  every  disciple  plan  his  getting  and 
expenditures  so  that  he  will  have  an  equitable  share  in  the 
work  of  the  kingdom.  By  obligating  oneself  in  advance  it 
will  help  us  to  keep  ever  before  us  in  our  business  and  labor 
that  Christ  is  a  sharer.  It  will  give  proper  incentive  to  our 
entire  business  life.  It  will  help  to  make  our  daily  call- 
ing one  of  sacredness.  It  will  cause  that  more  prayer 
and  holy  thoughtfulness  be  given  to  the  secular 
affairs  of  life.  I  think  that  such  a  motive  and  purpose 
will  lift  our  daily  vocation  from  common  drudgery  and 
make  it  a  calling  of  such  sacredness  as  no  language 
can  express.  Our  business  will  no  longer  be  a  selfish 
struggle  for  existence,  but  a  holy  partnership  with  God 
for  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  and  the  spread  of 
the  Gospel.  I  am  sure  with  such  a  pledge  before  us,  we 
can  pray  more  definitely  *and  with  greater  assurance  for 
God's  blessing  on  our  investments  and  business. 

Paying  Pledges. 

We  are  reminded  in  these  scriptures  that  the  obligation 
of  paying  these  pledges  is  just  as  sacred  as  making  them. 


In  Church  Finances  67 

The  apostle  says,  ''Now,  therefore,  perform  the  doing  of 
it,  that  as  there  was  a  readiness  to  will,  so  there  may  be 
a  performance  also  out  of  that  which  we  have."  In  this 
teaching  the  apostle  has  the  most  considerate  tenderness 
for  those  who  have  been  unable  to  fulfill  their  well-meant 
pledges.  He  saved  all  those  who  did  their  best,  from 
humiliation,  by  showing  that  God  does  not  press  us  for 
that  w^hich  we  are  unable  to  do,  and  as  our  offerings  are 
to  be  made  unto  him,  he  is  the  one  we  are  to  consider  in 
the  entire  transaction.  The  apostle  clearly  declares  that 
"If  there  be  first  a  willing  mind  it  is  accepted  according 
to  that  which  a  man  hath,  and  next  according  to  that 
which  he  hath  not."  While  this  indicates  that  God 
accepts  the  will  for  the  deed,  it  must  be  clearly  under- 
stood that  it  was  meant  for  those  who  failed  to  fulfill 
their  well-meant  pledges  because  of  inability.  Many  who 
pledge  to-day  wholly  disregard  such  an  obligation.  Many 
of  those  who  fail  to  regard  their  obligations  are  living 
luxurious  lives — extravagant  in  home,  dress,  and  living. 
The  apostle  gave  no  comfort  to  those  of  this  class  who 
fail,  but  his  words  of  condemnation  are  severe.  It  is 
possible  to  bring  upon  ourselves  and  the  church  the  curse 
of  God  because  of  this  sinful  disregard  of  the  obligations 
of  the  church  of  our  Lord. 


CHAPTER  VIL 
THE  RURAL  CHURCH 

THE  problem  of  finances  in  the  rural  church  is  in 
some  particulars  different  from  that  of  the  city  or 
large  town,  where  the  greater  part  of  the  membership 
have  a  fixed  regular  income.  The  prosperity  of  the 
country  church  is  of  such  importance  to  us  as  a  denom- 
ination as  to  demand  special  attention.  We  owe  much 
to  the  little  church  on  the  hill  where  the  Holy  Spirit 
touched  the  hearts  of  many  of  those  of  the  past  and 
present  who  have  made  our  denomination  what  it  is. 
These  churches  have  in  their  membership  and  community 
young  lives  w^ho  will  be  as  valuable  to  the  future  life  of 
the  denomination  as  were  those  of  the  past. 

There  are  facts  and  conditions  that  the  people  of  the 
rural  church  must  face,  and  among  them  the  most  seri- 
ous, possibly,  is  that  the  offerings  to  the  Lord  through 
these  churches  have  not  kept  pace  with  their  increase  of 
wealth.  Many  are  giving  but  little  more  to-day  than 
they  did  years  ago  when  their  financial  resources  were 
stringent.  The  primary  reason  for  this  is  lack  of  edu- 
cation along  lines  of  aggressive  church  life. 

The  want  of  an  adequate  system  of  finance  has  much 
to  do  with  the  condition  of  many  of  these  struggling 
churches.  Many  are  using  the  same  financial  plans  their 
grandfathers  used.  The  voluntary  quarterly  or  annual  pay- 
ment plan  may  have  been  all  that  was  needed  in  that  day 

68 


In  Church  Finances  69 

when  the  majority  of  preachers  turned  aside  during  the 
week  to  the  farm  or  some  other  secular  pursuit.  The 
preachers  of  that  type  are  not  satisfactory  to  the 
majority  of  these  churches  to-day.  The  average  country 
church  has  among  her  membership  as  large  a  per  cent, 
of  young  people  who  have  graduated  from  the  high 
schools  or  colleges  as  the  city  church.  They  demand  a 
trained  ministry.  To  have  ministers  of  this  kind  in  the 
rural  churches  is  impossible  unless  they  are  properly 
remunerated. 

The  Remedy. 

The  people  of  these  churches  must  adjust  their  finan- 
cial methods  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  times.  It  is  just 
as  necessary  for  the  rural  church  to  adopt  system  and 
meet  the  changing  situation  as  it  is  for  the  city  church. 
The  church  of  the  city  could  not  survive  if  the  same 
financial  plans  w^ere  follow^ed  that  are  used  in  most  of 
the  rural  churches. 

Many  in  our  rural  churches  think  that  the  system 
recommended  by  the  General  Conference  is  not  adaptable 
and  cannot  be  operated  in  the  country  church.  To  admit 
this  would  be  to  admit  that  the  teachings  of  the  New 
Testament  cannot  be  adapted  to  the  rural  church.  The 
plan  advocated  is  based  on  I.  Corinthians  16:  1,  2,  which 
is  a  restating  of  the  Old  Testament  plan.  (Deuteronomy 
16:  16,  17.)  From  the  very  beginning  the  worshiper  was 
taught  to  brhig  his  offering  to  the  place  of  worship  when 
he  approached  God.  Jesus  himself  practiced  and  en- 
dorsed this  same  principle.     The  use  of  the  envelope  is 


70  The  Better  Way 

an   adjunct,  merely  to   make  the   system   practicable   in 
our  present  order  of  worship. 

As  an  example,  consider  a  country  charge  of  three 
appointments  having  an  aggregate  membership  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty.  The  charge  has  agreed  to  pay  the 
pastor  a  salary  of  $800.  The  salary  is  apportioned 
according  to  the  strength  of  the  different  churches.  The 
charge  is  also  to  raise  $240  for  benevolences,  includin;^ 
ten  cents  per  member  for  church  extension.  The  churches 
vary  in  numerical  strength  and  ability.  Deal  first  with 
the  stronger  church  of,  say,  one  hundred  and  forty  mem- 
bers. This  class  has  to  meet  $500  of  the  pastor's  salary, 
at  least  $150  of  the  benevolences;  to  this  must  be  added 
perhaps  $130  for  the  current  expenses,  which  makes 
their  entire  budget  $780.  This  should  be  provided  for  at 
the  beginning  of  the  conference  year  by  taking  pledges 
from  every  member  of  the  class,  in  so  far  as  possible,  on 
the  weekly  basis,  using  the  following  card : 


AS  A   PERSONAL  OFP^'ERING  TO   THE  LORD 

— and — 

FOR  THE  SUPPORT  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH 

I  promise  to  pay  weekly 

To  the  current  expense  budget  $ 

To  missions   

Name 

Address    

No Date 


In  Church  Finances  71 

Assume  that  twenty- four  persons  cannot  be  reached  for 
any  sum.  In  any  ordinary  church  it  should  be  reasonably 
expected  that 
1  person  would  contribute  $1.00  a  week  or  $  52.00aycar 
5  persons  would  contribute  .50  a  week  or  130.00  a  year 
30  persons  would  contribute  .25  a  week  or  390.00  a  year 
40  persons  would  contribute  .10  a  week  or  208.00ayear 
30  persons  would  contribute  .05  a  week  or  78.00  a  year 
10  persons  would  contribute       .02  a  week  or      10.40ayear 


Total $868.40 

This  would  give  a  surplus  of  $88.  This  done,  provide 
each  member  with  a  package  of  fifty-two  envelopes, 
numbered  and  dated.     (See  sample,  page  29.) 

The  missionary  and  benevolent  interests  should  be 
provided  for  by  an  every-member  canvass,  securing  a 
pledge  on  the  weekly  basis — payable  weekly,  monthly,  or 
quarterly.  Use  the  envelope  indicated  above,  having  it 
duplex,  either  of  the  two-pocket  variety,  or  printed  on 
the  front  like  the  sample:  one  side  for  the  current  ex- 
pense budget,  and  the  other  for  missions.  If  the  officials 
of  the  church  decide  that  it  is  better  to  accept  some 
standard  suggested  by  the  Mission  Boards  as  their  mis- 
sionary obligation,  this  should  be  included  in  the  budget. 
Suppose  the  minimum  standard  was  adopted :  The 
amount  for  home  missions  would  be  $35 ;  the  amount  for 
foreign  missions,  $70,  making  the  total  budget  $885.  In 
the  event  of  adopting  this  policy,  be  sure  to  have  the 
pledges  cover  the  entire  amount.  Have  the  treasurer 
instructed  to  divide  the  offerings   on  the  proportionate 


72  The  Better  Way 

basis.  You  will  see  that  the  figures  above  provide  for 
this  standard. 

To  have  this  system  succeed,  a  quarterly  statement 
should  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  every  member  at  the 
end  of  each  quarter.  (See  Form  of  Statement,  page  45.) 
If  members  will  pay  nothing,  make  out  this  statement 
indicating  the  fact.  All  members  should  be  treated  alike. 
These  statements  can  be  delivered  either  through  the 
mail  or  in  person. 

Then  the  weaker  churches  must  be  dealt  with  on  the 
same  basis.  The  making  of  the  offering  may  be  a  little 
more  difficult,  inasmuch  as  these  churches  have  a  service 
only  every  two  weeks.  In  this  event  the  same  envelopes 
may  be  used,  giving  Brother  Jones,  of  Zion  Class,  the 
envelopes  from  package  number  one,  that  are  numbered 
and  dated  for  the  Sundays  on  which  services  will  be  held 
in  Zion  Church;  and  to  Brother  Brown,  of  Beulah  Class, 
the  envelopes  from  this  same  package  that  are  numbered 
and  dated  for  the  Sundays  on  which  services  are  to  be 
held  in  Beulah  Church ;  or  you  can  secure  packages  of 
twenty-six  numbered  envelopes,  with  the  space  for  the 
date  left  blank.  This  system  can  be  worked  if  some  one 
will  get  it  on  his  heart  and  take  the  trouble  to  work  it. 
The  results  will  revolutionize  your  church. 

How  IT  Works  Where  Introduced. 

This  system  is  practical  and  can  be  introduced  and 
worked  in  a  country  church.  Like  aerial  navigation,  it 
is  no  longer  a  mere  possibility — it  is  being  done.  The  fol- 
lowing statement  from  Roy  Nelson,  the  steward  of  Lib- 


In  Church  Finances  73 

erty  Class  Battle  Ground  Charge  St.  Joseph  Conference, 
fully  confirms  this  statement.  He  says :  "The  finances  of 
our  church  were  in  a  very  unsatisfactory  state,  and  we 
were  unable  to  meet  the  demands  of  our  class.  We  had 
seventy-two  members,  only  two  of  whom  were  land-own- 
ers. After  much  prayer  and  many  words  of  encourage- 
ment from  my  pastor,  I  decided  that  I  would  make  a  can- 
vass of  the  membership  of  our  church  myself,  and  secure 
a  pledge  to  cover  our  pastor's  salary,  local  expenses,  and 
presiding  elder's  salary.  [This  year,  1910,  they  have  put 
in  their  conference  assessments.]  It  required  a  great  deal 
of  hard  work  the  first  year,  but  it  resulted  in  securing 
fifty-seven  weekly  pledges  out  of  the  seventy-two,  as  fol- 
lows :  One  person  gave  two  dollars  per  week,  five  gave 
seventy  cents,  two  gave  forty  cents,  six  gave  thirty  cents, 
five  gave  twenty-five  cents,  three  gave  twenty  cents, 
twenty-three  gave  ten  cents,  five  gave  five  cents,  two  gave 
four  cents,  one  gave  eight  cents,  and  five  gave  two  cents. 
The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  subscribed  $100,  and  the  Sunday 
school  made  a  pledge  of  $52,  making  the  total  offering 
for  this  first  year,  $815.62.  The  church  paid  this  easier 
than  they  paid  $250  the  previous  year.  It  gave  new  life 
to  every  department,  of  the  work.  The  average  attend- 
ance of  the  Sunday  school  increased  from  forty  to  eighty- 
five,  and  the  oft'erings  from  forty  or  fifty  cents  to  from 
$1.50  to  $5  a  Sunday." 

Rev.  L.  O.  Blake,  pastor  of  a  village  church  at  Dale- 
ville,  Indiana,  gives  a  striking  example  of  what  the 
system  recommended  will  do  when  properly  introduced 
and  worked.     Pie  says :    ''This  charge  formerly  used  the 


74  The  Better  Way 

quarterly  and  annual  payment  plan  and  raised  for  all 
purposes  $350  per  year.  Under  this  system  we  now  raise 
$1,200.  My  people  like  it  and  those  who  use  it  give 
double  and  some  of  them  sextuple  the  amount  they 
formerly  gave,  and  do  it  more  cheerfully  and  easier. 
Nearly  all  give  more  than  under  the  old  system.  We  use 
the  dated,  numbered  envelopes  for  our  local  budget 
which  includes  pastor's  salary,  local  expenses,  and  all 
conference  assessments,  except  home  and  foreign  mis- 
sions." 

"This  system  was  introduced  by  telling  and  demon- 
strating to  the  official  board  how  it  worked  elsewhere, 
also  showing  that  it  is  scriptural  and  feasible.  We  then 
secured  a  pledge  on  the  weekly  basis  from  as  large  a 
number  of  the  membership  as  it  was  possible.  All  were 
furnished  with  a  carton  of  envelopes  of  the  kind  indi- 
cated. This  system  has  been  in  use  now  for  nine  months 
and  it  works  finely." 

Rev.  L.  T.  Taylor,  Chisney,  Indiana,  pastor  of  a  cir- 
cuit, says :  'T  use  the  budget  system  in  all  my  churches. 
In  two  of  them  expenses  for  the  year  along  all  lines  of 
work  are  included.  In  this  we  are  having  success — money 
is  easy  to  raise.  At  the  other  churches  we  include  only 
conference  assessments  in  the  budget.  I  have  used  this 
system  since  last  conference  and  have  never  had  more 
success  in  raising  conference  money  than  I  am  having 
now.  Next  year  I  will  introduce  the  system  at  once.  I 
will  total  all  expenses  and  use  the  expense  card.  This 
plan  is  meeting  with  success  on  my  charge ;  one  church 
has  paid  the  salary  in  advance  and  all  are  in  good  shape." 


In  Church  Finances  75 

I  think  that  we  need  not  hesitate  to  introduce  this  sys- 
tem in  these  locaHties,  for  financing  the  church  according 
to  the  New  Testament  method  is  not  a  matter  of  loca- 
tion. The  scriptural  method  of  church  financing  and 
giving  is  just  as  binding  on  the  farmer  or  individual  with 
an  irregular  income  as  it  is  on  the  individual  with  the 
fixed  regular  income.  It  may  be  that  the  amount  to  be 
laid  aside  for  the  Lord  week  by  week  will  not,  or  cannot 
be,  measured  by  the  same  regularity  as  the  one  who  has 
a  stated  income,  but  his  giving  can  be  just  as  regular. 

Giving  is  not  to  be  governed  by  location,  but  every  one 
is  to  give  as  the  Lord  prospers  him.  It  is  an  individual 
matter  based  on  the  individual's  income.  There  may  be 
more  difficulties  to  overcome  by  some  individuals  or 
classes  than  others,  but  the  demand  of  the  Scriptures 
remains  the  same. 

The  present  method  in  most  of  the  rural  churches  has 
much  to  condemn  it,  other  than  the  fact  that  it  is  not 
warranted  by  Scripture.  Children  and  young  people  are 
neglected;  their  training  in  the  grace  of  giving  is 
entirely  overlooked.  Our  fathers  and  church  leaders  in 
the  past  failed  in  this  particular,  and  now  we  are  reap- 
ing the  results.  Many  churches  are  committing  the 
same  blunder  to-day.  Unless  the  habit  of  Christian 
beneficence  is  developed  in  early  life,  it  will  be  almost 
impossible  to  develop  it  when  old.  A  distinguished 
capitalist  in  New  York  City  said,  "Do  not  expect  much 
benevolence  from  a  man  after  he  has  become  a  million- 
aire." The  love  of  money  becomes  such  a  passion  as 
one  accumulates,  that,  unless  he  has  formed  the  habit  of 


76  The  Better  Way 

giving  in  earlier  life,  it  shrivels  all  benevolent  impulses. 
I  personally  know  of  a  man  who  became  very  rich;  he 
had  the  habit  of  accumulating,  but  not  of  giving.  On 
one  occasion  he  listened  to  a  pitiful  story  of  suffering 
and  destitution  until  he  was  moved  to  tears,  and  when 
the  offering  was  taken  he  put  two  cents  in  the  fund, 
when  he  might  have  given  ten  or  one  hundred  dollars 
and  suffered  no  hardship  or  self-denial  by  such  a  gift. 
Most  of  the  large  givers  started  in  life  in  poor  circum- 
stances. They  made  their  own  money  and  always  kept 
up  the  practice  of  giving.  Others  have  inherited  their 
wealth  but  not  the  spirit  of  beneficence.  This  spirit  is 
probably  no  more  characteristic  of  the  rural  church- 
member  than  of  others,  but  observation  has  shown  it  to 
be  one  of  the  difficulties  in  the  rural  church. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  BENEVOLENCES  OF  THE  CHURCH 

OXE  of  the  niost  perplexing  problems  that  many  of 
our  churches  have  to  deal  with  is,  providing 
for  the  benevolences  of  the  denomination.  I  do  not 
think  that  failure  in  this  is  due  so  much  to  lack  of  in- 
terest on  the  part  of  the  pastor  and  people,  as  to  lack  of 
information.  In  the  Congregational  body  only  eighteen 
per  cent,  of  the  churches  in  the  entire  country  gave  to 
all  six  of  their  benevolent  societies.  The  failure  with 
them  as  with  us  is  due  largely  to  the  system,  and  the 
lack  of  information  needed  to  create  interest.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  adequately  to  finance  the  different  boards  we 
dare  not  depend  on  the  fervent  and  frequent  appeals  to 
the  congregation. 

Wrong  System. 

This  system  is  inadequate  and  detrimental.  It  has 
been  worked  until  many  complain  that  they  cannot 
afford  to  go  to  church  because  of  the  constant  begging 
there.  This  plan  has  brought  forth  a  general  protest 
from  pulpit  and  pew  against  the  numerous  collections 
that  are  crowded  into  our  services.  There  are  no 
criticisms  as  to  the  need  or  the  worthiness  of  the  cause. 
The  faithful  see  that  they  are  worthy  and  find  it  hard 
to  refuse,  but  they  are  becoming  a  deplorable  burden. 
These  frequent  appeals  cause  antagonism  that  is  detri- 

77 


7^  The  Better  Way 

mental  to  the  best  financial  interests  of  the  church. 
Recently  a  lady  was  heard  to  say,  ''A  person  cannot 
turn  around  in  our  church  without  being  asked  for 
money."  This  was  not  provoked  from  any  desire  to 
avoid  giving,  but  was  the  result  of  a  method.  In  many 
churches  a  free  rein  is  given  to  every  society.  It  is 
common  for  solicitors  to  be  placed  in  the  vestibule  of 
the  church  to  besiege  people  as  they  pass  in  and  out, 
and  this  possibly  following  a  passionate  appeal  made 
from  the  pulpit.  All  this  leaves  an  unfortunate  impres- 
sion on  the  people  in  general.  The  effect  on  strangers, 
especially  if  they  happen  to  be  poor,  will  be  such  that 
they  will  steer  clear  of  such  a  church. 

This  method  is  vexing  many  of  the  faithful,  and  militat- 
ing against  reaching  and  interesting  the  non-attendants, 
for  it  is  becoming  an  excuse  for  non-attendance  at  the 
means  of  grace.  It  is  a  very  common  thing  for  pastors  to 
hear  as  an  excuse  for  not  attending  church,  'T  cannot  af- 
ford it."    It  is  also  failing  to  provide  the  necessary  funds. 

We  are  not  contending  that  we  have  too  many  inter- 
ests, or  are  called  upon  to  give  too  much ;  we  should 
and  must  give  more  to  these  great  and  worthy  interests 
of  the  church,  but  the  haphazard  way  we  have  been 
having  for  raising  the  funds  is  the  fault.  The  interests 
represented  are  too  important  to  allow  them  to  be  pro- 
vided for  in  such  a  careless,  unsystematic  manner. 

If  the  people  are  carefully  taught  that  Christianity 
has  a  universal  mission  and  is  not  limited  by  locality,  it 
will  go  a  long  way  toward  abating  this  custom  which  to 
many  is  so  trying.     It  must  be   remembered   that   this 


In  Church  Finances  79 

method  which  is  considered  so  obnoxious  cannot,  or  will 
not  be  abated,  until  the  church  in  its  system  of  finance 
provides  for  its  benevolences. 

The  plan  that  will  succeed  is  that  in  which  regular 
and  systematic  emphasis  is  placed,  in  the  pulpit  and  in 
private,  upon  all  the  interests  to  be  served.  But  in  con- 
nection there  should  be  a  system  of  collecting  for  these 
interests  that  wnll  bring  in  the  money,  and  at  the  same 
time  relieve  the  preacher  and  the  congregation  of  the 
agony  of  a  begging  scene  every  Sunday  or  two. 

Deal  With  the  Individual. 

The  fault  lies  largely  in  the  fact  that  w^e  have  in  the 
benevolent  interests  dealt  with  the  church  as  a  whole ; 
we  have  thought  only  of  a  gift  from  the  church  to  the 
various  boards. 

To  have  the  interests  of  the  church  developed  to  the 
point  that  these  interests  demand  for  the  extension 
of  the  kingdom,  there  will  have  to  be  a  radical 
change  in  the  raising  of  these  funds.  We  will  have  to 
follow  the  plans  that  have  proven  successful  in  other 
lines — break  up  the  masses  and  deal  with  the  individual. 
We  will  have  to  adopt  such  plans  as  will  draw  each 
individual  into  living  sympathy  with  these  great  inter- 
ests. It  is  not  sufficient  that  any  church  give  liberally, 
it  must  respond  individually.  Unless  I  give,  I  cannot 
glory  in  wdiat  my  church  does. 

Organize  the  Benevolences. 

It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  every  church 
organize  its  benevolences.  God  demands  it ;  Paul  plainly 


80  The  Better  Way 

taught  it,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  various  benevolent 
societies  need  it.  The  people,  when  once  they  under- 
stand it,  will  greatly  enjoy  it  and  increase  their  offerings. 
The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  get  a  live  committee 
who  will  look  after  every  interest  of  every  board 
supported  by  the  benevolences  of  the  church.  This 
committee  should  be  constituted  of  the  individuals  rep- 
resenting the  various  interests  of  thq  church.  It  should 
have  as  a  member  the  general  steward,  together  with 
representatives  of  the  various  mission  boards  and  educa- 
tional societies.  The  size  of  the  committee  may  vary 
according  to  the  size  of  the  church.  If  this  is  done,  the 
various  organizations  will  be  able  to  do  their  work  with- 
out overlapping  or  confusion.  Under  this  plan  there 
will  be  a  correlation  of  the  interests  and  the  giving  will 
be  done  in  a  more  systematic  and  adequate  manner.  To 
reach  the  individual  and  obviate  the  public  appeals  and 
the  embarrassments  growing  therefrom,  many  pastors 
and  church  officials  have  been  grappling  with  this  prob- 
lem. Various  plans  have  been  thought  out.  The  most 
feasible  and  easily  worked  in  the  large,  well-organized 
church  is  found  to  be  the 

Single  Budget. 

In  the  working  out  of  this  plan  the  various  interests 
are  considered  by  their  proper  representatives.  Let  the 
missionary  committee  of  the  congregation  meet  with  the 
pastor  and  the  finance  committee  and  fix  the  amount  to 
be  raised  for  missions  by  the  congregation.  Then  let  the 
other  benevolent  interests  that  have  been  apportioned  to 


In  Church  Finances  81 

the  church  be  discussed,  and  added  to  the  amount  for 
missions,  and  this,  with  the  current  expenses  of  the  con- 
gregation, will  form  the  budget  for  the  year.  For 
example,  suppose  a  local  church  is  to  raise  for  all  pur- 
poses, $2,300.  The  pastor's  salary  is  $1,000;  the  pre- 
siding elder's,  $50;  light,  heat,  music,  janitor,  insurance, 
and  all  the  current  expenses,  $450 — that  would  be  $1,500 
for  all  current  expenses.  For  foreign  missions,  $300 ; 
for  home  missions,  $300 ;  church  erection,  $30,  and  all 
other  conference  assessments,  $170 — total  for  benevo- 
lences, $800 — or  a  budget  of  $2,300  to  be  raised  by  a 
congregation  of  three  hundred  members.  This  would 
mean  but  $45  per  week,  or  an  average  of  fifteen  cents 
per  week  for  each  member.  This  would  be  paid  weekly 
in  an  envelope  recommended  for  this  purpose  in  a  pre- 
vious chapter,  the  treasurer  making  a  division  each  week 
on  the  basis  of  65  per  cent,  to  the  current  expenses,  and 
35  per  cent,  to  the  benevolent  fund.  This  can  be  easily 
done  in  almost  any  church.  It  would  be  the  tithe  of  a 
weekly  income  of  $450  from  three  hundred  members. 

There  is  much  in  favor  of  this  system.  By  this  plan 
a  definite  sum  is  fixed  and  sought  to  be  obtained  for  all 
interests.  These  amounts  are  fixed  by  the  pastor  and  a 
most  representative  committee  of  the  church,  no  doubt 
having  in  its  membership  those  who  are  most  interested 
in  the  various  departments.  The  members  of  this  com- 
mittee will  be  in  the  closest  possible  touch  with  the  various 
boards  and  will  make  up  estimates  with  the  needs  and  ob- 
jects of  these  interests  before  them.  In  this  way  the  actu- 
al need  of  each  board  will  be  most  carefullv  considered  bv 


82  The  Better  Way 

the  committee  and  by  them  presented  to  the  church. 
This  method  goes  about  the  matter  very  much  as  the 
trustees  of  a  college  and  the  manager  of  a  business  con- 
cern does  in  arranging  for  the  annual  expense. 

Under  this  system,  when  once  the  full  amount  is 
provided  for,  the  congregation  is  immune  from  other 
solicitations.  It  is  only  under  extraordinary  conditions 
that  any  appeal  may  be  made,  and  that  by  the  consent 
of  the  congregation.  This  does  not  mean  that  indi- 
viduals of  means  and  those  interested  are  not  to  be 
approached  and  solicited  for  any  special  help,  but  for 
the  regular  benevolences  no  appeal  or  canvass  is  to  be 
made  from  the  church. 

A  system  of  this  kind  will  give  to  the  pastor  an  oppor- 
tunity to  invite  to  his  church  missionaries  whose  hearts 
are  burning  with  a  message,  and  who  can  present  the 
conditions  from  a  viewpoint  not  possible  from  other 
agencies.  Secretaries  and  representatives  of  the  various 
benevolent  boards  will  be  heard  quite  differently  when 
the  people  understand  that  the  address  is  not  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  an  appeal  for  money.  A  campaign  of  education 
can  be  made  more  effective  if  it  is  not  accompanied  by  a 
direct  appeal  for  aid  for  the  societies  it  represents. 

Another  system,  and  one  possibly  more  in  keeping 
with  the  condition  of  the  majority  of  our  churches,  and 
the  policies  of  the  boards,  is  the  double  budget  plan ;  that 
is,  the  fixing  of  a  budget  of  the  current  expenses  of  the 
congregation,  and  adding  to  this  the  stated  apportionment 
of  the  church  for  the  benevolences,  exclusive  of  missions, 
and  possibly  church  erection.    This  budget  is  to  be  pro- 


In  Church  Finances  83 

vicled  for  by  the  stewards  or  finance  committee  of  the 
local  church  in  the  manner  previously  recommended.  The 
interests  of  missions,  home  and  foreign,  are  to  be  looked 
after  by  the  missionary  committee  of  the  church  who 
will  visit  every  member  and  secure  from  all  a  weekly 
pledge  for  missions  to  be  divided  as  the  donor  may 
indicate.  A  convenient  card  for  this  purpose  will  be 
something  after  the  following: 


To  enable  our  denomination  adequately  to  provide 
for  the  five  millions  abroad,  and  to  develop  the 
church  in  the  home  land,  and  do  our  full  share  for 
the  Christianizing  of  America,  I  joyfully  express  my 

purpose  to  contribute  $ per  week,  to  be  divided 

thus :    $ for  foreign  missions,  and  $ 

for  home  missions. 

Name 

Date 


For  operating  this  plan  the  following  suggestions  are 
made  :  Give  as  before  recommended  to  each  contributor  a 
package  of  envelopes,  numbered  and  dated.  If  the  two- 
pocket  variety  is  adopted,  place  in  one  pocket  the  weekly 
offering  for  current  expenses  and  in  the  other  the  weekly 
ofifering  for  missions.  These  envelopes  are  opened  by 
two  members  of  the  finance  committee,  one  representing 
the  current  expense  budget,  and  the  other  a  member  of 
the  missionary  committee,  who  will  keep  a  record  in  a 


84  The  Better  Way 

book  arranged  and  provided  for  that  purpose,  and  then 
turn  over  to  the  church  treasurer  the  entire  amount. 
Another  envelope,  and  one  which  is  recommended  by 
the  commission,  is  the  single  pocket  envelope  with  the 
double  budget  indication  printed  on  the  face.  (See 
sample,  page  29.)  The  wording  and  printing  on  the 
face  of  the  envelope  can  be  suited  to  the  local  needs. 
This  envelope  is  preferable  for  two  reasons:  First,  it 
obviates  the  inconvenience  of  not  having  the  right 
change  which  the  two-pocket  envelope  calls  for;  second, 
they  are  much  cheaper,  costing  but  a  trifle  over  half  as 
much  as  the  other. 

The  advantage  of  the  duplex  system,  that  of  making 
your  offerings  week  by  week  in  the  same  envelope,  will 
keep  constantly  in  the  mind  of  the  worshiper  that  the 
obligation  of  the  individual  is  to  p/ovide  for  the  services 
of  his  own  church,  and  at  the  same  time  to  care  for  the 
needs  of  the  kingdom  beyond  his  own  parish.  By  plac- 
ing these  needs  side  by  side  every  Sunday,  it  will  at  once 
suggest  that  they  are  two  sides  of  one  problem,  and 
that  they  are  mutually  related  and  must  be  solved 
together. 

K  third  system  and  one  that  is  strongly  recommended 
by  the  leaders  in  foreign  missions  is  to  divide  the  work 
into  three  groups — local,  home  missions  (in  this  embrac- 
ing all  the  interests  of  the  home  field),  and  foreign 
missions.  It  is  recommended  that  a  separate  every-mem- 
ber  subscription  campaign  be  made  at  a  suitable  season 
of  the  year  for  the  various  interests.  For  the  local 
budget,  the  best  and  logical  time  is  at  the  close  of  the 


In  Church  Finances  85 

year,  and  if  not  dune  then  it  slumld.  witliout  fail,  be  tlone 
at  the  opening  of  the  conference  year.  A  logical  time 
for  home  missions  would  be  at  Thanksgiving  time,  and 
for  foreign  missions  at  Easter.  Should  this  method  be 
adopted,  either  the  two-pocket,  or  the  single-pocket 
envelope  with  the  duplex  oiTering  indicated  can  be  used. 
None  of  these  systems  will  be  elTective  or  bring  the 
desired  results  until  they  are  properly  worked.  To 
introduce  any  of  these  systems  it  will  be  necessary  to 
give  to  the  church  and  especially  to  those  to  whom  you 
look  for  assistance  in  introducing  the  plan,  a  thorough 
explanation.  The  system  should  be  explained  thoroughly 
from  the  pulpit.  Due  importance  should  be  given  every 
interest  and  the  reasonableness  of  the  demands  of  these 
departments  should  be  shown.  It  might  be  well  to  fix 
a  date  at  which  time  the  canvass  of  the  church  is  to  be 
made,  the  pastor  introducing  the  work  by  a  sermon  in 
which  he  should  intelligently  and  enthusiastically  present 
the  benevolent  interests  of  the  church.  The  canvass 
should  be  made  in  an  intelligent  and  enthusiastic  manner, 
having  the  canvassers  to  go  in  a  company  of  at  least 
two.  Some  one  has  said  that  a  single  canvasser  going 
alone  may  get  something,  two  going  together  will  be 
sure  to  get  something,  but  three  will  get  what  they 
want. 

How  A  Church  Succeeded. 

One  church  introduced  her  benevolences  by  having 
what  they  called  ''Benevolent  Sunday,"  at  which  time  the 
pastor  preached  a  stirring  sermon  on  the  subject.     The 


86  The  Better  Way 

people  were  previously  given  information  on  the  needs 
and  the  plan.  At  this  service  the  people  v^ere  called 
upon  to  make  pledges,  and  then  the  pledges  were  taken 
up  by  the  ushers  and  given  to  the  pastor,  wdio  read  the 
amounts  of  each  pledge  from  the  pulpit  (mentioning  no 
names),  while  a  competent  secretary  kept  the  record.  It 
worked  most  admirably.  Many  pledges  were  added  the 
following  Sunday.  This  w^as  followed  by  a  personal 
solicitation  of  the  membership  who  did  not  respond. 

Whatever  method  may  be  adopted  in  introducing 
this  system,  there  should  be  no  letting  up  until  every 
member  is  given  an  opportunity  to  assume  his  full  share 
of  the  benevolences  of  the  church.  When  our  church 
will  adopt  some  systematic  business  method  of  enlisting 
individually  the  membership,  the  work  of  the  church  of 
Jesus  Christ  will  go  forward  in  leaps  and  bounds. 


E 


CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  TITHE 

VERY  institution  has  some  foundation  for  its  exist- 
ence, and  in  matters  of  religion  especially  it  is 
vital  to  recognize  the  fundamental  principle.  We  can 
feel  quite  sure  that  every  law  laid  down  touching  the 
moral  and  religious  obligation  of  man  is  a  moral 
necessity. 

If  God  has  definitely  set  forth  any  institution  in  which 
man  is  definitely  obligated  to  his  Maker,  it  can  be  no 
less  than  a  moral  institution,  resting  on  moral  grounds, 
and  adapted  for  all  ages  to  the  moral  ends  for  which  it 
was  instituted,  and  cannot  be  abrogated  without  destroy- 
ing the  moral  principles  upon  which  it  is  based.  Has  the 
tithe  any  such  basis? 

The  Tithe  has  its  Moral  Grounds. 

Man  has  an  innate  sense  of  indebtedness  to  deity. 
This  is  a  record  of  secular  as  well  as  sacred  history  ages 
prior  to  the  written  law.  Though  sin  had  defaced  the 
moral  image  in  man  and  rendered  him  indifferent  to 
many  sacred  principles,  there  has  ever  been  a  cry  in  the 
soul  of  humanity,  ''What  shall  I  render  unto  God  for  all 
his  benefits  toward  me?"  In  all  ages  among  all  nations, 
the  cry  of  the  soul  of  the  searcher  after  God  has  been, 

87 


88  The  Better  Way 

"How  much  owcst  thou  to  thy  Lord  ?"  Has  God  given 
to  this  question  of  the  soul  any  law  which  is  to  govern 
the  actions  of  men?  Do  we  find  anywhere  an  answer 
that  this  innate  sense  requires?  Is  there  a  law  desig- 
nating a  definite  portion  of  every  one's  income,  or  are 
we  left  to  answer  this  question  according  to  our  own 
ideas?     The  law  of  the  tithe  is  such  an  expression. 

vStudents  of  great  research  like  Rev.  Henry  Lansdell, 
D.  D.,  Chaplain  of  Modern  College,  Blackheath,  Eng~ 
land,  says,  '*We  do  not  find  in  all  antiquity  a  nation 
devoted  to  any  deity  and  withholding  a  tenth."  Was 
this  universal  principle  by  which  every  nation  came  to 
recognize  the  tithe  as  a  duty  an  accident,  or  would  it  be 
more  reasonable  to  believe  that  it  w^as  a  standard  of  obli- 
gation which  God  has  given  to  the  race?  It  must  be  the 
latter.  Doctor  Kinicutt  says,  "Such  a  custom  must  be 
derived  from  some  revelation,  and  this  revelation  must 
be  antecedent  to  the  dispersion  at  Babylon."  I  hold  that 
it  was  given  to  Adam,  by  him  to  his  sons,  and  so  on 
down  to  Noah  and  his  family,  and  by  the  dispersion 
carried  to  all  the  world. 

It  was  stated  that  "the  sons  of  Japheth"  settled  the  vast 
regions  of  Western  Asia  and  Middle  and  Northern 
Europe.  They  built  their  temples  and  shrines  to  false 
gods.  They  tithed  their  articles  of  commerce,  industry, 
and  art,  and  just  as  Camillus.  vowed  the  tenth  of  the 
spoils  of  war  to  Apollo,  so  did  these  tribes  pay  tithes  of 
the  spoils  of  war  with  each  other,  to  false  gods.  The 
bloodthirsty  Scythian  paid  his  tithe  tribute  of  booty  and 
pillage  to  Thor  and  Oden,  his  hero  deities  in  the  far-off 


In  Church  Finances  89 

North.  And  so  it  was  with  the  ancient  inhabitants  of 
Greece  and  Italy ;  they  laid  their  tithes  from  the  profits 
iii  peace  and  war  upon  the  altar  of  idolatry.  The  ancient 
1  Triton  also,  in  his  ancient  isle,  left  his  tithe  of  increase 
or  confiscation  at  the  shrine  of  his  Druidical  deity ;  while 
the  Hindoos,  Chinese,  and,  in  fact,  all  nations,  peoples, 
and  tribes  of  earth  have  dedicated  their  tenth  to  what- 
ever gods  they  were  wont  to  w^orship.  \Ve  are  told  that 
to  the  pious  heathen,  it  was  the  greatest  sacrilege  and 
sin  to  touch  any  portion  of  one's  increase  until  the  tenth 
had  been  offered  to  the  gods.  I  conclude  that  it  w^ould 
be  improbable  for  people  of  every  nation,  language,  and 
religion,  to  come  to  the  same  conclusion  without  some 
guiding  star. 

Every  obligation  that  God  has  placed  upon  man  he 
has  clearly  and  explicitly  stated.  When  he  appointed  the 
Sabbath,  he  very  definitely  demanded  the  seventh  of  our 
time.  In  the  appointment  of  marriage  did  he  not  clearly 
define  the  bounds  and  limits  of  lawful  matrimony?  When 
we  read.  "The  tithe  is  the  Lord's."  we  must  believe  that 
it.  no  less  tb.an  the  Sabbath,  is  a  law  morally  binding 
on  all. 

TiTK  AfosAic  Law^  of  the  Tithe. 

There  is  an  erroneous  idea  that  the  tithe  w^as  a  law  of 
the  JGw^s  for  the  sustaining  -and  propagating  of  their 
religious  and  comn.iimistic  life.  There  is  sufficient  evi- 
dence in  the  Word  and  in  history  to  show  that  God  gave 
the  law  long  before  the  INIosaic  legislation.  Like  the  law 
of  the   Sabbath,  it  antedated  the  giving  of  the  law  to 


90  The  Better  Way 

Moses.     The  evidence  is  conclusive  that  it  existed  from 
the  beginning. 

The  giving  of  the  law  to  Moses  was  not  the  beginning 
of  Divine  legislation.  As  Doctor  Ripley  says,  'Tt  was  a 
more  direct  and  systematic  dedication  of  moral  principles 
which  are  a  necessity  to  man's  nature."  In  the  written  law 
of  Moses  we  find  the  primeval  laws,  such  as  the  Sabbath, 
marriage,  sacrifice,  and  the  tithe  incorporated.  The 
existence  of  the  tithe  at  this  time  is  evidence  of  its  ex- 
istence before.  Doctor  Constable,  in  ''Gold  and  the 
Gospel,"  says,  ''It  is  only  agreeable  with  all  we  are  told 
of  the  moral  law  that  this  (the  tithe),  as  every  other 
part  of  it,  came  not  first  into  force  when  it  fell  from  the 
lips  of  Moses,  but  had  its  previous  sanction  of  the  Divine 
command,   and  its  previous   claim  to  man's   obedience." 

The  evidence  is  quite  clear  that  it  was  taught  to  all 
the  earlier  people.  A  comparison  of  the  Septuagint 
Version  of  Genesis  4 :  6,  with  Hebrews  9 : 4,  would  indi- 
cate that  this  law  was  known  and  observed  by  theiu 
When  in  Leviticus  27 :  30,  the  obligation  of  tithe  paying 
is  restated,  it  is  expressed  as  being  already  holy  unto  the 
Lord.  It  is  set  forth  there  as  a  need  of  man's  nature; 
if  so,  it  will  always  remain  so  in  all  ages  until  man's 
nature  changes.  Paul  says  in  Galatians  3:17,  "A  cove- 
nant confirmed  beforehand  by  God,  the  law  which  came 
four  hundred  and  thirty  years  after  doth  not  annul,  so 
as  to  make  the  promise  of  none  effect."  That,  under 
Moses,  other  tithes  were  added,  and  laws  governing  the 
use  of  all  is  quite  evident,  but  the  moral  principle  of 
man's  obligation  to  pay  the  sacred  tenth  never  changed. 


Ill  Church  Finances  91 

The  New  Testament  Teaching  of  the  Tithe. 

Many  good,  conscientious  people  have  been  led  to 
believe  that  the  law  of  the  tithe  is  no  lon^^er  in  force 
under  the  dispensation  of  grace.  They  claim  that  the 
New  Testament  is  silent  on  the  subject,  and  that  the 
tithe  was  for  a  distant  nation  and  religion,  that  it  is 
strictly  Jewish,  and  is  awkward  and  mechanical,  and  is 
not  in  keeping  with  the  New  Testament  principles.  A 
more  careful  survey  of  the  entire  tithe  subject  and 
principle  will  lead  to  a  different  conclusion.  If  it  was  a 
moral  necessity,  a  principle,  expressing  man's  obligation 
to  his  Creator,  it  is  still  in  force.  The  changing  of  dis- 
pensations never  abrogated  moral  principles.  Every 
moral  principle  that  God  gave  to  the  primeval  race — 
patriarchs  and  prophets — is  still  in  force.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  if  the  tithe  was  the  Lord's,  and  holy 
unto  him  before  the  giving  of  the  law  and  during  the 
administration  of  the  law,  it  cannot  be  less  holy  under 
this  dispensation. 

The  argument  that  we  are  under  grace  and  not  under 
law ;  that  the  principle  that  governs  is  that  of  love  and 
not  necessity;  that  all  our  possessions  and  not  a  frac- 
tion belong  to  God,  and  that  no  part  is  more  sacredly 
his  than  another,  does  not  meet  the  demands  of  reason 
or  the  proper  exegesis  of  the  Word.  Jesus  teaches  that 
he  came  not  to  destroy  the  law,  but  to  fulfill.  He  no- 
where revoked  a  single  moral  principle  or  obligation. 
The  law  relating  to  our  time  is  unchanged,  the  laws 
relating  to  marriage,  honesty,  purity,  covetousness,  all 
go  unchanged — why  change  the  one  relating  to  the  tith- 


92  The  Better  Way 


?  Then,  as  to  all  beinj^-  his,  and  no 
part  more  sacrcdl)  so  than  another,  did  not  the  earth 
and  the  fnlness  thereof  always  belong  to  him?  Have 
not  the  gold  and  silver  always  been  his?  Have  not  the 
cattle  npon  a  thousand  hills  always  belonged  to  him?  or, 
in  other  words,  did  not  man's  possessions,  on  the  same 
basis,  always  belong  to  him?  Yet  to  the  infant  race  he 
gave  a  law  making  the  tithe  sacredly  his  and  to  be  used 
f(jr  the  sup])ort  of  the  worship  due  him. 

The  Sanction  of  Jesus. 

Jesus  gave  his  full  sanction  to  the   tithe  principle   in 
Matthew    23 :  2v3.     He  says,    ''This    ought    ye    to    have 

done "     Who   dare   deny   the   ought   when   the 

great  Lawgiver,  himself,  declares  it?  The  position  of  the 
opposer  of  the  tithe  law  being  binding  upon  the  New 
Testament  church  is,  that  he  to  whom  Jesus  spoke  was 
a  Jew,  and  that  Jesus  only  commended  him  for  keeping 
a  Jewish  law.  That  he  was  a  Jew  we  do  not  deny,  but 
as  a  Jew  he  was  to  accept  Jesus  as  his  long-promised 
Messiah,  and  was  to  follow  him  in  practice  and  in  faith. 
While  Jesus  commended  him  for  his  fidelity  to  the  law 
of  the  tithe,  he  also  declared  that  he  should  follow  him 
in  the  principles  of  the  new  kingdom.  On  another  occa- 
sion when  the  Pharisees  sought  to  entangle  him  as  to 
the  paying  of  tribute  to  Caesar,  Jesus  asked  to  see  the 
tribute  money,  and  holding  it  up  so  as  to  reveal  the 
image  of  Caesar,  he  fixed  the  principles  of  the  new  king- 
dom— "Render  unto  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's, 
and  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's."     In  this  single 


In  Church  Finayices  93 

sentence  he  strikes  the  keynote  of  the  New  Testament 
church  as  to  tithe  paying,  for  God  definitely  declares  in 
Leviticus  27 :  30,  "The  tithe  is  Jehovah's,  it  is  holy  unto 
Jehovah."  Nowhere  in  the  utterances  of  Jesus  do  we 
find  a  single  sentence  that  would  indicate  the  revoking 
of  the  tithe  law,  but  now  and  again  do  his  utterances 
commend  it.  Why  should  one  look  for  the  Gospel  to 
cancel  this  special  law  of  God  which  gave  direction  to 
the  use  of  the  substance?  If  such  a  law  was  ever  needed, 
it  is  needed  now.  Diflferent  dispensations  may  require 
different  rites  and  ordinances  of  worship,  but  God  has 
surely  but  one  law  to  govern  the  conduct  of  his  moral 
creatures,  and  concerning  the  law  the  Lord  himself 
says,  'Till  heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  one  jot  or 
one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass  from  the  law  until  all  be 
fulfilled."  Jewish  rites  and  laws  which  were  made  for 
the  nation  and  people  were  fulfilled  in  Christ ;  but  laws 
defining  duty  to  God  rest  upon  the  ground  of  moral 
obligation  and  can  be  fulfilled  only  as  man  renders  obe- 
dience to  God.  We  dare  not  divorce  the  moral  require- 
ments of  the  law  from  the  Gospel.  Doctor  Carson  says, 
''Such  a  doctrine  reflects  upon  God  himself,  for  having 
given  a  law  under  one  dispensation  that  is  at  variance 
with  a  gospel  given  under  another ;  it  strikes  at  the  root 
of  all  personal  religion  and  opens  the  flood-gates  of 
iniquity."  So  we  contend  that  the  moral  requirements 
set  forth  in  the  Old  Testament  are  continued  in  the  New 
Testament.  Hence  the  tithe  law  remains  in  force  just 
as  sacredlv  as  "Thou  shalt  not  steal,"  "Thou  shalt  not 
kill."  or  "Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy." 


94  The  Better  Way 

The  New  Testament  teaching  is  that  if  a  man  smite 
thee  on  one  cheek  turn  to  him  the  other  also;  if  he  take 
thy  coat,  give  him  thy  cloak  also ;  if  he  compel  thee  to 
go  one  mile,  go  the  second  also.  Under  this  larger  con- 
ception of  obligation  and  justice,  can  we  think  that  any- 
thing less  than  the  law's  requirement  of  the  tithe  will 
suffice?  The  one-tenth  of  a  Christian's  income  is  the 
least  amount  he  should  think  of  paying  to  meet  his  moral 
obligation  of  the  use  of  his  temporal  income. 

Paul's  Teaching  on  the  Tithe. 

In  his  first  letter  to  the  Corinthian  church,  Paul  says, 
"Know  ye  not  that  they  who  minister  about  sacred 
things,  eat  of  the  things  of  the  temple,  and  they  who 
wait  upon  the  altar  have  their  portion  with  the  altar? 
Even  so  did  the  Lord  ordain  that  they  who  proclaim  the 
gospel  should  live  of  the  gospel"  (I.  Corinthians  9:  13, 
14).  See  Deuteronomy  18:8-20,  as  to  what  the  things 
of  the  temple  and  altar  are.  They  are  the  first-fruits, 
which  is  the  sacred  tenth.  Again  in  Hebrews  7:1-10, 
he  shows  how  Abraham  paid  tithes  to  Melchizedek.  It 
is  an  example  of  our  duty  and  when  practiced  is  an  ex- 
pression of  our  loyalty  to  Christ. 

Paul's  further  teachings  on  our  monetary  obligations 
are  worthy  of  careful  attention.  In  his  orders  to  the 
churches  of  Galatia  and  Corinth,  there  are  four  things 
that  should  not  be  overlooked.  First,  he  declared  that 
every  one  should  give.  Second,  their  gifts  were  to  be 
stored  beforehand.  Third,  their  giving  was  to  be  in 
proportion  to  their  income.     (Here,  no  doubt,  the  tithe 


In  Church  Finances  95 

principle  was  in  mind.)  Fourth,  giving  was  to  be  exer- 
cised on  each  Lord's  day.  This  system,  if  carried  out 
by  the  churches  of  our  day,  would  soon  furnish  suf- 
ficient funds  to  evangelize  the  world.  In  a  book 
recently  published  by  Mr.  Thomas  Urquhart,  of  Toronto, 
Canada,  entitled  'The  Resources  of  Canadian  Churches," 
he  says  the  aggregate  income  of  the  four  leading 
Protestant  churches  of  the  Dominion,  namely,  the 
Anglican,  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  and  Baptist,  is 
$500,000,000.  He  grants  that  these  figures  are  below 
rather  than  above  the  facts.  Here  alone,  if  the  whole 
titlie  were  brought  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord,  these 
fom-  religious  bodies  would  have  $50,000,000  per  year 
for  the  Lord's  work.  How  easily  could  they  give  the 
$4,500,000  allotted  to  them  for  the  world's  evangeliza- 
tion. If  our  own  denomination  would  bring  her  whole 
tithe  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord,  we  should  have  no 
less  than  $6,000,000  instead  of  $2,500,000  for  our  church 
activities.  Can  we  expect  that  he  who  closed  the  win- 
dows of  heaven  against  his  children  of  old  for  robbing 
him  will  deal  more  leniently  with  us  for  the  same  sin? 

The  Apostolic  Church  on  Tithing. 

That  the  apostolic  church  recognized  this  principle 
there  is  no  doubt.  The  devotion  of  these  early  disciples 
to  the  new  religion  was  such  that  not  only  did  they  bring 
their  tithes,  but  they  brought  their  all  for  his  service. 
The  Christians  at  Jerusalem  speaking  to  Paul  said, 
''Thou  scest,  brother,  how  many  thousands  there  are 
among  the  Jews  of  them  that  believe,  and  they  are  all 


96  The  Better  Way^ 

zealous  of  the  law"  (Acts  21:20).  Through  this  wc 
observe  that  the  early  Christians  adhered  to  the  law. 
This  no  doubt  included  the  giving  of  tithes  which  at  that 
time  was  in  force  among  the  Jews. 

The  Tithe  as  a  Law  for  To-Day. 

It  is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  this  law  of  the  tithe,  so 
clearly  taught  in  the  Scriptures,  so  universally  practiced 
by  the  Jews  and  the  nations  of  antiquity,  and  observed 
by  every  heathen  nation  of  to-day,  is  violated  by  those 
who  call  themselves  Christians.  That  a  law  so  practical, 
so  easy  in  its  operations,  so  beneficent  in  its  results,  should 
ever  have  been  allowed  to  lapse  into  disuse,  is  hard  to 
understand. 

There  is  no  more  practical,  equitable,  and  righteous 
method  for  the  maintenance  of  the  institutions  of  religion 
and  for  meeting  the  very  pressing  claims  of  the  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ.  Every  reason  that  existed  in  ancient 
times  for  the  giving  of  the  tenth  to  God,  exists  with  in- 
creased obligation  to-day.  Every  claim  for  the  tithe 
which  could  be  pressed  on  the  Jews,  can  be  pressed  with 
much  greater  emphasis  on  the  Christians,  and  every  mo- 
tive of  love  and  fidelity  which  prompted  the  devout  He- 
brew to  bring  all  his  tithe  into  the  divine  store  house, 
presses  with  increased  force  on  the  Christian  Gentile. 

The  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  has  more  definitely 
brought  the  entire  race  into  a  common  brotherhood. 
Human  nature  is  still  the  same  and  needs  the  refining, 
elevating  influence  of  the  gospel  and  religious  worship 
and  fellowship.     The  great  obligation  to  send  the  mass 


1)1  Church  Finances  97 

sage  of  salvation  to  all  mankind  rests  upon  us  to-day  as 
it  never  rested  upon  the  Jewish  church.  The  clear  rev- 
elation of  the  Father's  infinite  love,  the  rich  heritage  of 
the  life  of  fellowship,  and  the  spiritual  privileges  come  to 
us  to-day  as  never  before,  and  should  prompt  us  in  this 
last  dispensation  to  consecrate  to  him  our  material  wealth. 
I  am  prepared  to  say  that  a  universal,  conscientious  paying 
of  the  tithe  of  our  incomes  for  the  objects  for  which 
Christ  died  and  rose  again,  would  lend  such  stimulus  to 
the  work  of  the  church  as  "to  make  the  desert  blossom 
as  the  rose."  A  revival  of  tithe-paying  by  Christians 
would  mean  new  life  to  the  church  itself,  and  new  vigor 
to  all  its  agencies.  No  reform  in  the  church  of  our  day 
will  produce  more  beneficial  results  or  open  vaster  possi- 
bilities of  service  than  systematically  laying  by  for  the 
church  God's  sacred  tenth.  Doctor  Horace  Bushnell 
says :  "One  more  revival,  only  one,  is  needed,  the  revival 
of  Christian  stewardship,  the  consecration  of  the  money 
power  of  the  church  to  God,  and  when  that  revival 
comes  the  kingdom  of  God  will  come  in  a  day.  You  can 
no  more  prevent  it  than  you  can  hold  back  the  tides  of 
the  ocean." 


I 


CHAPTER  X. 
THE  TITHE  AND  TITHERS 

N  our  modern  social  and  ecclesiastical  life  the  using  of 
God's  tenth  is  a  question  of  great  importance  and 
responsibility.  Personally,  I  hold  that  the  tithe  should 
be  set  aside  sacredly  for  the  sustaining  and  propagating 
of  the  worship  of  Jehovah.  Charities  and  other  philan- 
thropic interests  should  be  supported  by  the  freewill 
ofiferings  of  the  people. 

The  Use  of  the  Tithe. 

The  Scriptures  clearly  enjoin,  ''bring  ye  the  whole 
tithe  into  the  store  house."  It  is  held  by  many  that  the 
store  house  is  the  local  church,  but  under  the  present 
conditions  of  the  organized  body  of  Christ,  the  local 
church  and  denomination  are  only  fragments  of  the 
Church  of  Christ.  Inasmuch  as  the  work  done  by  the 
local  churches  represents  only  a  part  of  the  Lord's  work 
I  cannot  see  how  we  can  make  the  local  fragment  repre- 
sent the  store  house.  If  we  could  recognize  the  local 
organization  as  the  ordained  store  house,  I  would  unhes- 
itatingly emphasize  bringing  the  whole  tithe  into  its  treas- 
ury. Under  the  Jewish  system  every  individual  brought  a 
tithe  of  the  first-fruits  to  the  store  house,  but  only  a 
small  per  cent,  of  the  membership  of  any  local  church 
sets  aside  a  tithe  of  their  incomes  for  the  Lord's  work, 

98 


In  Church  Finances  99 

consequently  to  make  the  local  church  the  store  house 
has  its  difficulties. 

One  difficulty  arises  from  the  fact  that  there  are  so 
many  members  of  our  local  churches  who  will  contribute 
only  so  long  as  the  local  needs  are  pressing,  and  when 
these  are  met,  no  further  giving  can  be  secured  from 
them.  In  the  church  I  served  some  years  ago  a  young 
man  was  lead  strictly  to  tithe  the  receipts  of  his  business. 
He  became  prosperous.  The  first  year,  after  bearing  an 
equitable  share  of  the  current  expenses  of  the  church, 
he  gave  me  fifty  dollars  for  missions.  This  was  the 
amount  the  entire  church  was  assessed.  I  raised  the 
assessment  from  the  congregation  as  formerly,  and  had 
this  for  a  surplus.  A  successor  found  the  assessment  to 
be  sixty  dollars.  This  young  man  again  gave  fifty 
dollars,  and  the  pastor  raised  the  other  ten  from  the 
congregation.  This  was  repeated  for  a  few  years,  when 
finally  this  faithful  steward  withdrew  his  offering  en- 
tirely and  gave  it  elsewhere  on  the  ground  that  he  was 
giving  of  the  Lord's  money,  not  to  Him,  but  to  the 
unfaithful,  unresponsive  members  of  the  local  church. 
There  are  hundreds  of  pastors  and  churches  that  would 
put  forth  no  effort  to  have  the  entire  membership  meet 
their  individual  share  of  the  financial  obligation  of  the 
church  if  necessity  did  not  demand  it. 

Another  difficulty  is,  that  bringing  the  whole  tithe 
into  the  local  church  treasury  relieves  the  tither  of  the 
entire  responsibility  of  disposing  of  that  which  has  been 
entrusted  to  his  stewardship — a  service  which  quite  often 
brings  more  joy  than  the  giving  of  money.     One  ardent 


100  The  Better  Way 

advocate  of  the  local  store-house  plan  was  heard  to  say 
when  he  brought  his  weekly  tithe  to  the  church  treasury, 
''There,  my  responsibility  ceases  so  far  as  that  is  con- 
cerned." This  case  may  be  exceptional,  but  the  tendency 
will  be  in  that  direction. 

To  obviate  this  difficulty,  the  tithers  of  a  local  church 
might  form  an  association  having  their  own  treasurer,  and 
the  tithes  of  the  association  would  be  disposed  of  by  the 
members.  At  the  beginning  of  the  church  year  they 
could  agree  as  to  what  per  cent,  of  their  tithes  should  go 
to  the  current  expenses  of  the  church ;  what  per  cent,  for 
Christian  education,  missions,  and  other  benevolent 
claims  of  the  church,  at  the  same  time  setting  aside  a 
per  cent,  of  each  individual's  tithe  to  be  used  as  he  might 
decide.  Also,  a  per  cent,  of  the  whole  tithe  might  be 
held  to  be  used  for  other  Christian  work  at  the  option  of 
the  association. 

The  Tithe  Covenant  Plan. 

Whatever  difficulties  we  may  find  in  making  the 
local  church  the  store  house,  it  has  much  in  its  favor. 
Wherever  it  is  worked,  it  works  great  good  to  the  local 
congregation,  and  accomplishes  much  for  the  benevolent 
work  of  the  church. 

Doctor  F.  O.  Ballard,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  says 
that  tithing  began  in  his  church  (Memorial  Presbyterian) 
in  1898,  when  they  had  fifty-five  tithers.  There  was  no 
organization  and  no  covenant.  The  church  derived  only 
a  small  benefit  from  the  practice,  for  each  tither  dis- 
bursed his  tithe  as  it  seemed  good  in  his  own  eyes.     In 


In  Church  Finances  101 

1901,  a  band  of  seven  began  tithing  and  brought  the 
whole  tithe  into  the  store  house.  By  the  end  of  1901 
there  were  twenty-seven  who  tithed  in  this  manner. 
They  deposited  their  tithe  anonymously  in  a  white 
envelope  bearing  this  inscription,  "The  Lord's  Tenth." 
At  the  end  of  six  months  it  was  found  that  the  white 
envelopes  had  brought  in  as  much  money,  lacking  $85, 
as  the  rest  of  the  church  of  over  six  hundred  members. 
The  smallest  amount  ever  paid  in  a  white  envelope  was 
two  cents,  and  the  largest  $57.50.  After  the  annual 
meeting  there  was  an  increase  in  the  number  of  tithers 
until  at  the  close  of  1903  they  had  seventy-five.  The 
quarterly  offering  of  the  tithe  had  increased  in  this 
church  from  $319:52  for  the  first  quarter  of  1901,  to 
$1,259.59  for  the  last  quarter  of  1903. 

A  Methodist  church  at  Morencia,  ^lichigan,  has  fol- 
lowed this  plan  with  some  modifications  for  some  time. 
11icir  plan  is  that  the  membership  of  the  association 
Yn-'m^  into  the  church  treasury  three-fourths  of  their 
tithe,  holding  one-fourth  to  distribute  themselves. 
Twenty-five  of  a  mem.bership  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  adopted  this  plan,  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  the 
tithers  contributed  $571,  against  $955  given  by  the  other 
one  hundred  and  sixty  members.  The  treasurer,  Mr.  V. 
E.  Baldwin,  says :  'Tt  will  be  seen  that  less  than  one- 
seventh  of  the  members  by  tithing  have  been  able  to  pay 
more  than  one-third  of  all  the  money  raised  by  the 
church,  and  raised  two-thirds  of  all  the  benevolences, 
placing  the  church  for  the  first  time  in  many  years  where 
it  should  be  in  this  respect." 


102  The  Better  Way 

The  Third  United  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Chicago, 
has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  ninety,  of  which 
forty-six  follow  this  system.  This  band  of  one-fourth 
of  the  membership  gives  three-fourths  of  the  regular 
offerings  of  the  church,  and  about  five-sixths  of  the  mis- 
sionary offerings.  The  following  is  a  sample  of  the 
covenant  of  this  church : 

**We,  the  members  of  the  Third  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  hereby  agree,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  with 
one  another — 

"First.  That  we  will  tithe  our  incomes  for  one  year 
beginning   

''Second.  That,  at  the  end  of  each  week,  we  will  count 
out  one-tenth  of  our  income  from  our  wages,  salary, 
profits,  rents,  interests,  or  other  resources ;  balance  oui 
private  tithe  book ;  enclose  the  money  in  an  envelope 
without  inscribing  thereon  our  name  or  amount,  and 
place  it  on  the  plate  when  the  regular  offering  is  taken 
at  the  Sabbath  service.  In  case  of  illness  or  other  dis- 
ability the  money  will  be  sent  to  the  church  or  reserved 
until  we  are  able  to  attend. 

"Third.  That  this  money  shall  be  apportioned  by  the 
officers  of  the  church,  as  follows :  Seventy-two  per  cent, 
to  the  Ordinance  Fund,  which  includes  pastor's  salary, 
janitor,  heat,  light,  repairs.  Sabbath  school,  and  miscel- 
laneous expenses.  Twenty  per  cent,  to  the  Mission 
Boards  of  the  church,  to  be  distributed  according  to  the 
General  Assembly's  schedule.  One  per  cent,  to  the 
Young  People's  Christian  Union.  Two  per  cent,  to  the 
Woman's  Missionary  Society.     Five  per  cent,  to  benev- 


In  Church  Finances  103 

olences.  This  increase  in  per  cent,  for  benevolences  is  to 
help  meet  the  appropriation  made  by  a  vote  of  the  con- 
gregation for  the  following  worthy  organizations  which 
hereafter  are  to  have  a  regular  appropriation  from  our 
church :  Hyde  Park  Protective  Association,  the  Pacific 
Garden  Mission,  the  Cook  County  Sunday  School  Asso- 
ciation, and  the  Chicago  Tract  Society. 

''Fourth.  That  having  entered  into  this  covenant  we 
will  not  be  under  obligation  or  expected  to  sign  any 
other  subscription  or  pledge  of  any  kind  for  any  church 
work  or  benevolence. 

''Fifth.  That  in  case  we  desire  to  make  additional 
contributions,  they  will  be  in  the  nature  of  freewill  offer- 
ings, thank  offerings,  or  other  special  gifts.  For  this 
purpose  the  church  treasurer  will  keep  a  separate 
account  so  that  members  desiring  to  make  additional 
oft'erings  for  specific  objects  may  do  so  and  have  the 
privilege  of  directing  how  the  money  shall  be  used. 

"Sixth.  That  in  matters  not  herein  provided  for,  the 
officers  are  empowered  to  act  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  church." 

This  covenant  could  be  varied  to  meet  conditions  in 
any  local  congregation.  The  per  cent,  for  missions, 
education,  and  church  extension  in  our  church  should  be 
liberal. 

The  Advantages. 

Some  of  the  advantages  are : 

First.  It  exalts  the  church  and  not  the  individual ;  it 
f)uts  credit  where  it  belongs.     The  money  is  the  Lord's, 


104  The  Better  Way 

and  when  the  various  recipients  receive  the  aid  it  draws 
their  thought  and  admiration  to  the  church  and  not  the 
individual.  \Mien  charities  and  the  poor  are  aided,  it 
will  bring  them  into  an  attitude  of  grateful  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  benefaction,  and  will  aid  in  breaking  down 
the  barrier  that  many  are  trying  to  place  between  the 
church  and  the  masses. 

This  is  the  principle  which  fraternal  organizations 
w^ork  upon.  The  membership  pay  their  dues  to  the  com- 
mon treasurer,  and  the  aid  is  administered  in  the  name 
of  the  society,  and  the  fraternity  receives  the  applause 
and  approval  of  the  beneficiary  and  the  public.  If  all 
the  members  of  the  church  do  for  the  poor,  in  ways 
temporal  and  spiritual,  were  done  in  the  name  of  the 
church,  she  would  soon  be  recognized  as  the  great  warm- 
hearted friend  of  the  needy  and  those  in  distress. 

Second.  It  will  enable  the  church  to  stand  upon  her 
rightful  plane  in  the  community,  and  not  be  looked  upon 
as  a  beggar,  dependent  upon  the  charity  of  the  people. 
If  this  plan  were  followed,  sufficient  funds  for  the  carry- 
ing on  of  the  work  of  the  church  would  come  into  her 
treasury,  making  it  unnecessary  to  resort  to  unworthy 
or  Cjuestionable  methods  of  raising  money.  The  char- 
itably inclined  and  the  business  men  of  the  community 
would  not  be  annoyed  and  dogged  for  donations  and  the 
buying  of  tickets. 

Third.  This  covenant  system  of  the  ''Lord's  Tenth 
Envelope,"  places  rich  and  poor  on  an  equality.  Both  put 
their  money  into  an  envelope  of  the  same  sort  and  each 
has  the  same  standing  before  God,  for  each  has  brought 
the  Lord's  money  as  he  has  been  prospered. 


In  Church  Finances  105 

Four  til.  By  this  system  every  department  of  the 
church  gets  its  full  share,  week  by  week,  for  the 
treasurer  places  the  per  cent,  of  the  day's  offering  to  the 
fund  to  which  it  belongs.  Missions  are  not  put  off  until 
the  last  of  the  year  to  be  cared  for  as  the  impulse  may 
strike  the  congregation  or  the  individual.  The  benev- 
olences, which  usually  suffer  for  lack  of  attention,  will 
week  by  week  receive  their  due  share  of  attention  and 
the  great  interests  dependent  upon  them  will  be  fully 
provided  for. 

Fifth.  It  gives  the  pastor  an  op])ortunity  to  give 
proper  information  and  instruction  on  the  subject  of  the 
stewardship  of  money  without  spoiling  the  effect  by  hav- 
ing to  make  an  appeal  for  some  interest. 

Sixth.  It  greatly  simplifies  the  work  of  the  treasurer. 
Instead  of  keeping  a  personal  ledger,  having  an  account 
with  each  individual,  he  has  only  to  take  a  per  cent,  of 
the  whole  and  credit  each  interest  to  which  the  associa- 
tion is  making  an  off'ering. 

I  am  inclined  to  think  that  this  plan  is  most  in  accord 
with  the  teaching  of  Scripture,  and  if  carefully  guarded 
by  the  persons  interested,  can  and  will  overcome  all  the 
objections  that  may  be  brought  against  it.  It,  no  doubt, 
will  bring  the  individual  into  a  fuller  realization  of  his 
stewardship.  It  has  met  the  approval  of  the  Lord  and 
has  worked  most  successfully  in  every  church  where  it 
has  been  faithfully  tried. 

Frequently  those  who  are  not  members  of  the  church 
stay  away  because  of  the  constant  pressure  that  is  being 
made  publicly  for  money.     They  fear  that  if  they  man- 


106  The  Better  Way 

if  est  any  interest  in  the  church  they  will  be  victims  of 
her  struggle  for  money. 

Experiences  of  Churches. 

Tithing  adequately  provides  for  the  various  interests  of 
the  church,  as  the  following  show.  The  annual  report  of 
the  East  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  Charlotte,  North  Caro- 
lina, says :  "We  closed  the  year  with  fifty-eight  tithers  who 
contributed  to  the  current  expenses,  $2,944.26,  or  $50.76 
per  capita;  the  other  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  contrib- 
uting meiaibers  paid  $1,666.69,  or  $8.67  per  capita.  The 
missionary  offering  was  $665.84;  forty  of  the  tithers 
contributed  $527.04;  the  non-tithers,  $138.80."  In  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  East  Connellsville,  Indi- 
ana, we  have  an  illustration  of  what  tithing  does  for  a 
small  church  of  eighty-five  members,  twenty-five  of  whom 
are  tithers.  These  tithers  gave  $470,  or  an  average  of 
$18  each,  while  the  sixty  non-tithers  gave  $340,  or  an 
average  of  $5.67.  A  marked  example  is  that  of  the 
Dublin,  Georgia,  Baptist  Church.  The  treasurer  of  this 
church  says :  "We  have  seventy-three  tithers,  twenty- 
nine  are  men,  twelve  of  the  seventy-three  are  under  age ; 
these  tithers  contributed  last  year,  $4,439.43 ;  during  the 
same  time  the  other  five  hundred  and  fifteen  members  of 
the  church  contributed  $3,020.96."  From  this  we  see 
that  the  tithers  gave  an  average  of  $52.23,  while  the  non- 
tithers  gave  an  average  of  $5.86;  the  tithers  contributed 
practically  ten  times  as  much  as  the  non-tithers.  In  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Dundee,  Ontario,  composed  of  one 


In  Church  Finances  107 

hundred  and  ninety  members,  thirty-six  of  whom  were 
tithers,  the  tithers  gave  an  average  of  $53.13  per  mem- 
ber, or  $1,912.79;  while  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  non- 
tithers  gave  $1,567.71.  A  mission  church  in  Wonson, 
Korea,  with  fifteen  members  and  twelve  adherents,  sup- 
port their  own  missionary  in  China.  The  average  gift 
of  the  native  Christian  in  Korea  is  fifteen  cents;  the 
average  of  this  church,  of  which  all  members  and  ad- 
herents are  tithers,  is  $1.33. 

Organize. 

There  must  be  some  one  who  will  get  this  matter  on 
his  heart  and  be  willing  to  deny  self  and  push  the  work. 
It  should  be  the  pastor,  for  the  Bible  plainly  teaches  that 
right  relations  with  our  finances  are  the  greatest  assurance 
of  victory  in  the  spiritual,  evangelistic,  and  temporal 
welfare  of  the  church.  If  the  pastor  does  not  lead  off, 
let  some  one  call  together  for  prayer  and  counsel  those 
who  recognize  God's  claim  on  them  as  stewards  and 
those  who  are  in  sympathy  with  the  movement. 

The  next  step  naturally  would  be  to  call  a  meet- 
ing of  the  congregation ;  urge  all  who  are  interested  in 
the  bettering  of  the  financial  condition  of  the  church  to 
be  present.  Be  sure  to  have  your  local  finance  commit- 
tee, stewards,  and  other  officers  present.  If  the  pastor 
is  in  line  with  the  movement,  have  him  to  give  a  talk  or 
Bible  study  on  the  subject.  If  the  pastor  is  not  available, 
secure  some  one  else,  if  you  have  to  send  for  a 
speaker.  Have  all  who  have  had  any  experience  in 
tithing  there  to  give  a  testimony.     In  advance  of  this 


lOS  The  Better  Way 

meeting,  secure  the  names  of  all  the  congregation  who 
tithe.  After  the  address,  have  a  wise,  careful  person 
present  the  matter  and  secure  the  names.  If  there. are 
those  who  cannot  come  out  fully,  get  their  pledge  for 
three  months,  or,  if  nothing  more,  secure  their  promise 
to  join  in  the  study  of  the  subject. 

Effect  an  organization  by  electing  a  president  and 
secretary.  Also  have  a  committee  on  membership,  and 
one  on  literature,  and  any  other  interests  that  local  con- 
ditions may  demand.  Through  this  organization  you  can 
keep  the  matter  before  your  church.  Provide  a  fund 
from  which  you  can  secure  proper  literature. 

In  some  places  tithers  become  obnoxious  by  a  thought- 
less and  Pharisaical  allusion  to  the  subject.  There  is  no 
more  need  of  boasting  of  this  than  of  any  other  duty  in 
which  we  live  in  humble  obedience  to  the  plain  require- 
ments of  the  Word.  The  tither  is  at  liberty,  when  the 
occasion  permits,  to  bear  testimony  to  the  joy  of  sucli 
obedience,  or  the  blessings  that  come  to  him  spiritually 
and  temporally  as  a  result. 

The  tithers  of  a  congregation  can  be  of  great  help  in 
the  developing  of  the  church  finances.  People  to-day 
want  results  and  the  tithers  by  organization  can  bring 
them  to  pass.  If  the  tithe  principle  is  to  be  advanced  in 
our  churches  I  would  suggest  a  simple  organization  in 
every  congregation  for  the  developing  of  the  principle. 


CHAPTER  XL 
TITHES  AND  GOD'S  BLESSING 

IT  has  ever  been  the  plan  of  God  that  his  people 
conform  their  lives  and  practices  to  his  will  as  a 
condition  of  blessing.  ]\Iuch  of  our  effort  for  the  pro- 
moting of  the  kingdom  among  men  is  lost  because  we 
are  not  conforming  our  lives  and  practices  to  his  order- 
ing. Many  pastors  and  churches  are  calling  on  the 
people  for  self-examination  and  correction  of  their  lives 
in  order  that  the  Lord  might  manifest  his  power  in  the 
reviving  of  the  church  and  the  salvation  of  the  sinful 
and  rebellious.  The  church  is  overlooking  some  of  the 
things  that  are  important  in  securing  the  favor  and  help 
of  God.  Malachi  made  a  startling  arraignment  of  the 
church  in  his  day  when  he  charged  her  with  being  the 
cause  of  God  withholding  his  presence  and  power.  He 
charged  the  people  with  being  formal  and  self-satisfied, 
denouncing  their  profanity,  sacrilege,  greed,  weariness 
in  service,  treason  against  him,  robbery,  and  with  failing 
to  fulfill  their  part  of  the  covenant  with  him.  He  assures 
them  that,  if  they  will  hearken  and  obey,  God  will  make 
good  in  their  lives  and  nation  his  promises.  He  showed 
them  that  the  cause  of  his  withholding  was  that  they  had 
forgotten  his  love,  and  degraded  the  sacred  things  of  the 
sanctuary ;  that  they  had  chosen  their  own  way  both  as 
to  the  kind  and  proportion  of  their  offerings,  and  because 
of  this  they   were  cursed  with  barrenness   in   land   and 

109 


110  The  Better  Way 

flock,  life  and  spirit.  God's  challenge  is,  ''Bring  ye  the 
whole  tithe  into  the  storehouse  that  there  may  be  food 
in  mine  house,  and  prove  me  now,  herewith,  saith 
Jehovah  of  hosts,  if  I  will  not  open  you  the  windows  of 
heaven  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing  that  there  shall  not 
be  room  enough  to  receive  it.  And  I  will  rebuke  the  de- 
vourer  for  your  sakes,  and  he  shall  not  destroy  the  fruits 
of  your  ground,  neither  shall  your  vine  cast  its  fruit  be- 
fore the  time  in  the  field,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts."  His 
appeal  is,  you  answer  my  love  with  your  obedience,  and 
see  if  I  will  not  fulfill  my  covenant. 

The  Key  in  our  Hands. 

The  prophet  plainly  shows  us  that  the  key  to  the  door 
of  prosperity  is  in  our  own  hands.  He  says  that  if  we 
will,  we  can  lock  or  unlock  the  windows  of  heaven  to- 
wards ourselves  and  the  church.  Doctor  O.  P.  Gifford 
very  forcefully  says :  "The  church  is  on  her  knees  before 
God,  begging  him  to  open  the  windows  of  heaven  and 
pour  out  his  blessing.  She  pleads,  she  agonizes,  she 
begs,  and  the  voice  of  God  answers,  Ts  not  the  key  in 
your  pocket?  Bring  the  whole  tithe  into  the  store- 
house.' "  Many  are  reaching  up  and  pleading  for  God's 
blessing  when  the  surest  way  of  obtaining  it  is  by  reach- 
ing down.  The  closed  purse  is  closing  the  windows  of 
heaven  and  withholding  the  showers  of  blessings  for 
which  so  many  are  pleading.  God  has  very  forcefully 
presented  in  his  Word  the  relation  between  tithes  and 
blessings  upon  his  church  in  spiritual  and  temporal 
afiPairs. 


In  Church  Finances  111 

The  Tithe  and  God's  Promises  of  Spiritual 
Blessings. 

Great  spiritual  enlargement  is  sure  to  come  when  our 
giving  is  according  to  God's  plan.  Too  many  are  mak- 
ing their  rule  of  giving  to  correspond  with  their  spiritual 
blessings.  God  puts  it  the  other  way,  and  makes  our 
spiritual  blessings  to  depend  on  the  right  use  of  our 
money.  He  says,  'The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat, 
and  he  that  watereth  shall  be  watered  also  himself.^' 
''Give  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you,  good  measure, 
pressed  down,"  etc.  In  the  light  of  these  and  many  other 
passages  of  Scripture,  we  can  unhesitatingly  say  that 
where  these  conditions  are  met  these  promises  are  ful- 
filled over  and  over. 

As  we  trace  Israel's  decline,  the  first  step  to  the  wrong 
was  universally  withholding  tithes  and  offerings ;  then 
the  forsaking  of  the  true  God  for  the  gods  of  the  nations 
around  them.  From  the  teachings  of  the  church  fathers 
we  are  inclined  to  believe  that  the  sins  that  caused  the 
declining  faith  in  the  early  church  were  the  same — the 
withholding  from  God  his  portion.  Doctor  Sylvanus 
Stall,  in  an  article  on  "The  Broken  Law,"  says,  "About 
three  centuries  before  the  Reformation,  the  apostate 
Church  of  Rome  assailed  the  doctrine  of  the  Divine  right 
of  the  tithe.  She  taught  that  tithes  not  being  of  Divine 
right,  they  might  be  alienated  from  the  support  of  the 
priests  and  be  used  for  the  aggrandizement  of  the 
church.  To  justify  corrupt  practices  it  was  necessary 
to  supplant  Divine  laws  by  corrupt  doctrines.  This  the 
'Man  of  Sin'  did  not  hesitate  to  do,  but  substituted  the 


112  The  Better  Way 

doctrine  of  Competent  Maintenance  for  the  Divine  Law 
of  the  Tithe.  The  state  was  not  slow  to  learn  the  lesson. 
If  tithes  did  not  belong  to  God,  and  God's  ministers 
were  entitled  only  to  a  competent  maintenance,  why 
was  not  the  state  as  justly  entitled  to  the  tithes  of  the  peo- 
ple as  the  Pope?  and  why  should  not  the  state  appro- 
priate the  tithe  and  dole  out  to  the  clergy  a  competent 
maintenance  as  well  as  the  Pope  ?  Thus,  in  the  sixteenth 
century  we  have  the  state,  under  the  protection  of  this 
corrupt  doctrine,  wresting  from  the  church  those  tithes 
which  God  had  devoted  to  her  support.  As  every  stu- 
dent of  history  knows,  the  eflfects  were  as  disastrous  as 
the  doctrine  was  delusive." 

Tithes  and  Revivals. 

Under  the  reign  of  the  prophets  the  people  were 
plainly  taught  that  before  they  could  look  for  God's 
pleasure  and  have  his  blessing,  they  would  have  to  get 
right  in  this  respect.  The  great  awakening  under  Heze- 
kiah  came  as  a  result  of  Hezekiah's  turning  and  walking 
in  the  ways  of  David,  his  father.  It  is  evident  that  in 
the  days  of  David  the  people  ofifered  willingly  unto  the 
Lord.  In  I.  Chronicles  29:  17,  David  says,  'As  for  me, 
in  the  uprightness  of  my  heart  I  have  willingly  offered 
these  things,  and  now  I  see  with  joy  the  people  that  are 
present  here,  willingly  offering  unto  thee."  Before  the 
spiritual  awakening  came  in  the  days  of  this  great  and 
good  king,  the  people  had  to  put  away  the  evil  of  their 
doing,  and  destroy  the  idols  that  were  in  their  midst,  and 


Ill  Church  Phiances  113 

bring  in  the  tithes  and  offerings.  The  people  responded 
to  the  teachings  of  this  man  of  faith  and  brought  in 
abundance  the  firstfruits  of  grain — ''and  tithes  of  all 
things  brought  they  in  abundantly."  And  as  a  result, 
"since  the  people  began  to  bring  in  the  obligations,  .  .  . 
Jehovah  has  blessed  the  people." 

In  the  days  of  Nehemiah  the  same  conditions  were 
required.  (Nehemiah  10:38,  39;  13:  11,  12.)  When 
Malachi  was  called  as  the  prophet  of  God,  he  at  once 
began  to  review  Israel's  condition  and  found  that  one 
cause  of  her  spiritual  bondage  was  the  sin  of  robbing 
God  of  tithes  and  offerings.  He  assures  them  that  if 
thev  repent  and  bring  all  the  tithes  into  the  storehouse, 
God  will  turn  with  favor  on  them  and  pour  out  blessings. 
What  was  true  in  the  days  of  Aialachi,  is  true  in  ours. 
Hundreds  of  testimonies  from  pastors  and  church  officials 
could  be  given  to  bear  out  this  statement,  but  to  the 
inquiring  soul  God's  Word  is  sufficient. 

TiTF.  Tithe  the  Kp:y  to  Temporal  Blessings. 

"Honor  the  Lord  with  thy  substance  and  with  the 
firstfruits  of  all  thine  increase ;  so  shall  thy  barns  be 
filled  with  plenty  and  thy  presses  burst  with  new  wine." 

God  has  seen  fit  to  manifest  his  approval  of  the 
observance  of  his  law  of  giving  by  great  temporal  bless- 
ings. If  the  law  of  the  tithe  is  a  moral  obligation  upon 
man,  and  it  surely  is,  then  all  the  blessings,  spiritual  and 
temporal,  vouchsafed  to  the  people  to  whom  it  was  first 
given  stand  for  all  time.  The  promises  of  blessings  to  all 
those  who  would  be  ogedient  to  this  law  are  many. 


114  The  Better  Way 

God  has  not  left  us  without  witness  as  to  his  bestow- 
ing temporal  blessings  on  those  who  honor  him  with 
their  substance. 

Whenever  Israel  paid  her  tithes  the  blessings  of  heaven 
rested  upon  her  according  to  the  promise ;  but  when  she 
failed  in  this  obligation,  she  was  cursed  with  a  curse. 
The  door  of  prosperity  was  opened  or  closed  as  Israel 
obeyed  or  disobeyed  the  law.  The  soil  was  made  barren 
or  fertile  as  she'  gave  or  withheld  the  tenth  of  her  in- 
crease. In  Malachi  3 :  10,  we  are  taught  that  from  the 
windows  of  heaven  were  poured  blessings  or  blight  in 
proportion  as  Israel  brought  or  failed  to  bring  her  tithes 
and  offerings  into  the  storehouse.  When  Israel  with- 
held, God  visited  the  people  with  want  and  calamity,  and 
when  she  returned  with  her  tithe,  he  again  blessed  her 
with  prosperity  and  plenty.  Prophet  after  prophet  shows 
Israel  suft'ering  captivity  and  calamity  because  of  the 
neglect  of  this  duty.  (Haggai  1:9,  10;  Malachi  3:8,9.) 
The  temporal  prosperity  under  Hezekiah  and  Nehemiah 
was  preceded  by  the  people  bringing  their  tithe  offerings 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord.  (Chronicles,  chapter  31; 
Nehemiah,  chapter  12.) 

We  can  go  back  to  an  early  period  of  temporal  pros- 
perity in  the  time  of  God's  servant,  Jacob.  (Genesis  30: 
27-44.)  While  in  the  house  of  Laban,  he  was  living  and 
laboring  under  the  covenant  made  at  Bethel.  (Genesis 
28:  20-22.)  When  he  entered  Laban's  house  he  had  but 
little,  but  after  twenty  years  he  had  flocks  and  herds  in 
abundance.  Because  of  this,  I.aban  was  stirred  with 
jealously  and   sought  to  reduce  Jacob's  prosperity,  but 


In  Church  Finances  115 

it  mattered  not  how  he  changed  conditions  or  the 
terms  of  division,  Jacob's  portion  was  always  greater. 
God  plainly  revealed  to  him  that  he  prospered  be- 
cause he  had  taken  him  as  a  partner.  Is  it  not  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  God  will  give  added  success  to  the 
business  in  which  he  has  a  definite  interest? 

In  the  reformation  under  Hezekiah,  they  had  to  bring 
their  tithes  into  the  house  of  the  Lord  (II.  Chronicles 
31 :  4-31)  ;  the  results  were  : 

Firt.  That -the  needs  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  were 
abundantly  provided  for ;  all  who  worked  about  the 
temple  and  depended  on  the  offerings  of  the  people  for 
their  livelihood  received  their  portion.  There  was  no 
lack  of  means  to  carry  on  their  system  of  worship,  which 
at  that  time  was  very  elaborate  and  expensive. 

Second.  God  blessed  the  people  with  great  material 
])rosperity ;  they  had  great  stores  for  themselves  and  an 
abundance  for  the  cause  of  the  Lord,  without  resorting 
to  unscriptural  methods  of  raising  money  for  the  work 
of  the  Lord.  They  did  not  have  to  resort  to  bazaars, 
tea-parties,  concerts,  lectures,  neck-tie  parties,  dumb 
socials,  masquerades,  and  other  tricks  and  devices.  No 
church  would  ever  need  to  do  any  of  these  things  if  the 
membership  would  honor  God  with  their  substance  in 
adhering  to  the  law  of  the  tithes. 

Individual  Testimonies  as  to  God's  Faithfulness. 

We  are  not  left  without  witness  in  our  day  of  those 
who  have  prospered  temporally  and  spiritually  by  observ- 
ing the  law.     Thousands  are  willing  to  bear  testimony 


116  The  Better  Way 

that  God's  promises  are  just  as  sure  to-day  as  they  were 
to  Israel  of  old.  We  give  Irere  the  testimony  of  a  few 
who  have  tested  God  as  to  this  promise. 

A  brother  says:  ''From  the  day  of  my  conversion  I 
began  to  give  one-tenth  to  the  cause  of  God,  and  during 
the  following  eleven  years  I  gave  more  than  I  was  worth 
when  I  was  converted.  The  Lord  had  prospered  me  so 
that,  after  eleven  years  of  giving,  I  was  worth  ten  times 
more  than  before."  Truly,  this  is  a  fulfillment  of  ''Give, 
and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you." 

Two  teachers,  who  were  themselves  taught  of  the 
Spirit,  give  the  following  testimony :  "It  is  now  about 
seven  years  since  we  were  induced  to  set  aside  a  certain 
portion  of  our  income  for  the  cause  of  God.  We  were 
then  in  straightened  circumstances  and  we  made  up  our 
minds  to  give  one-tenth,  and  now  God  has  placed  us  in 
a  position  of  prosperity  that  we  never  enjoyed  before, 
and  we  are  now  able  to  give  one-fourth  of  our  income." 

Hear  the  testimony  of  one,  who  like  many,  was  fearful 
of  duty  because  of  pressing  debts.  He  says :  "I  was  in 
doubt  a  long  time  as  to  whether  I  ought  to  give  largely 
to  benevolences  while  in  debt.  I  began  to  doubt,  how- 
ever, after  a  long  and  unsuccessful  struggle  to  get  out 
of  debt,  that  I  should  ever  succeed.  At  length  I  was 
persuaded  that  I  was  robbing  God  to  pay  other  creditors. 
My  wife  and  I  consulted  over  the  matter  and  decided  to 
pay  a  tenth,  which  we  have  done,  and  God  has  prospered 
us  beyond  any  previous  expectation."  Why  not  expect 
it?  He  says,  "He  will  make  all  grace  abound  toward 
you;  he  will  multiply  your  seed  sown." 


In   Church  Finances  117 

A  man  in  business  and  in  debt  makes  a  covenant  to 
give  one-tenth  of  all  his  increase,  and  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  others  in  like  circumstances  he  gives  this  expe- 
rience :  "I  gave  all  my  affairs  into  his  hands  asking  him 
to  give  or  withhold  as  would  be  best  for  his  glory.  From 
that  time  my  business  increased,  1  had  all  I  could  attend 
to  and  all  seemed  to  turn  to  money.  In  a  short  time  I 
was  out  of  debt  and  kept  on  giving  one-tenth  of  all  I 
received,  and  never  lacked  means.  I  have  known  others 
who  have  done  this  and  all  have  prospered.  It  is  not  so 
much  the  money  we  give  as  the  joy  of  giving.'^ 

Another  testifying  to  the  faithfulness  of  God  says:  "I 
commenced  tithing  my  income  seventeen  years  ago,  when 
it  was  very  small.  For  at  least  twelve  years  I  had  not 
given  a  cent,  but  I  was  able  to  pay  out  of  my  one-tenth 
fund  no  less  than  $2,500.  I  know  that  my  prosperity 
which  still  continues  is  practically  due  to  my  recognition 
of  my  heavenly  Father  as  my  other  partner  in  my  busi- 
ness. He  furnishes  the  capital,  I  get  my  nine-tenths  of 
the  profits,  and  enjoy  the  giving  away  of  his  tenth  as 
much  as  I  do  the  possessing  of  what  is  left." 

Here  is  a  rich  testimony  for  young  men,  especially  for 
voung  men  entering  business,  as  to  the  faithfulness  of 
God  in  the  fulfilling  of  his  promises.  Early  in  life  a 
well-known  Eastern  merchant  took  Jacob's  pledge — "Of 
all  that  thou  shalt  give  me,  I  will  surely  give  the  tenth 
unto  thee."  He  directed  his  clerk  to  open  an  account 
with  O.  P.  J.  (Old  Patriarch  Jacob),  and  to  credit  to  it 
one-tenth  of  all  the  profits  of  the  concern.  His  success 
was  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  land  and  O.  P.  J.'s  account 


118  T^e  Better  Way 

amounted  to  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars,  and  when  he 
was  asked  how  he  could  give  such  large  sums,  he  replied, 
"I  do  not  give  anything,  it  is  the  Lord's  money." 

Giving  is  a  wide  channel  of  blessing.  The  promise 
(II.  Corinthians  9:8),  "God  is  able  to  make  all  grace 
abound  unto  you,"  is  found  in  connection  with  the  apos- 
tolic teaching  on  liberal  giving.  Our  Lord  is  waiting 
with  hands  ladened  with  blessings  to  reward  our  obedi- 
ence in  e^ivins:. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
THE  GRACE  OF  GIVING 

THE  subject  of  Christian  beneficence  can  have  only 
a  depressing  influence  on  an  unconsecrated  indi- 
vidual. It  requires  a  yielded  and  Spirit-filled  life  to  hear 
with  joy  the  obligation  of  spending  and  being  spent  for 
Him  whom  we  profess  to  love.  While  it  is  placed  among 
the  graces  of  the  Spirit,  it  is,  nevertheless,  difficult  for 
many  good  and  thoughtful  believers  to  understand  how 
giving  can  be  a  means  of  grace.  It  should  be  enough 
when  his  omniscience  declares  that  liberality  is  a  grace, 
and  that  by  exercising  therein  it  does  lead  to  the  devel- 
opment of  the  believer.  To  have  it  so,  it  cannot  be 
held  as  a  mere  duty,  but  of  glad  and  heartfelt  choice 
and  even  delight. 

In  the  study  of  the  teachings  of  Paul,  see  how  careful 
he  is  in  bringing  everything  that  might  be  helpful  in  the 
developing  of  the  Christian  character  to  the  attention  of 
those  to  whom  the  Holy  Spirit  directed  his  writings. 
The  subjects  he  especially  emphasized  were,  the  separated 
life,  fellowship  with  the  W^ord,  the  communion  of  saints, 
the  assembling  of  believers,  the  life  of  prayer,  and  the 
grace  of  giving.  In  his  letters  to  the  church  at  Corinth, 
among  the  graces  in  which  they  were  to  abound  he  placed 
liberality. 

I  fear  in  dealing  with  this  subject  in  the  church  of 
to-day,  we  fail  to  give  it  its  rightful  place.     We  have 

119 


120  The  Better  Way 

allowed  our  people  to  believe  that  their  giving  was  a 
matter  of  caprice  and  not  an  obligation  or  an  act  of  wor- 
ship. 

As  w^e  look  upon  the  victories  of  the  church  of  the 
apostles  and  see  how  they  gave  themselves  and  their 
gifts  under  the  leadership  and  guidance  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  we  are  persuaded  that  what  the  church  needs 
to-day  to  enable  her  to  give  in  a  measure  commensurate 
with  her  ability  is  an  indwelling  of  the  Divine  Spirit. 

To  have  our  giving  become  a  means  of  grace  to  us, 
it  must  be  given  in  such  a  manner  that  the  gift  and  the 
giver  will  be  in  accord  with  the  teachings  of  the  New 
Testament.  The  believer  must  ever  keep  in  mind  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  has  a  very  definite  oversight  in  this  par- 
ticular. The  church  or  the  individual  that  grows  and 
prospers  and  is  to  be  blessed  of  God  in  things  temporal 
and  spiritual,  must  follow  the  teachings  of  the  Spirit  as 
it  relates  to  his  getting  and  giving. 

How  CAN  GIVI^x.  be  a  Grace? 

The  question  will  naturally  arise  in  the  mind  of  the 
reader — how  can  giving  become  a  grace?  This  will  be 
easily  understood  if  we  but  notice  what  liberality  will  do 
for  the  individual.  With  Paul  it  was  a  joy  so  great  that 
it  overflowed  in  Divine  enthusiasm  and  hallelujahs  of 
praise.  It  is  evident  that  the  spirit  of  sefishness  which 
dw^arfs  the  soul  and  grieves  the  Holy  Spirit  will  be 
destroyed.  It  will  also  lead  to  self-denial,  thereby  devel- 
oping one  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  discipleship 


In  Church  Finances  121 

with  Jesus.     It  will  develop  love,  for  where  our  treasures 
arc  there  will  our  love  be  also. 

Give  Oursi^lves. 

To  have  our  i^ivini;-  a  grace,  we  must  first  give  our- 
selves, as  Paul  says  in  II.  Corinthians  8:5 — "This  they 
did,  not  as  we  hoped,  but  first  gave  themselves  to  the 
Lord  and  unto  us  by  the  will  of  God."  The  giver  is  of 
more  value  to  God  than  any  gift  he  might  ofifer.  Some 
one  has  said,  "Personal  consecration  must  come  before 
purse  consecration ;  self-consecration  before  wealth  con- 
secration." It  was  not  the  gold  that  sanctified  the  temple, 
but  the  temple  that  sanctified  the  gold.  We  too  often 
pull  at  the  wrong  strings  to  get  money  from  our  people. 
The  heart-strings  should  be  loosened  before  we  attempt 
to  loosen  the  purse-strings.  We  must  ever  keep  before 
our  churches,  if  we  want  God's  blessing  upon  them  and 
upon  the  lives  of  our  people,  that  the  giving  of  money, 
however  liberal  their  ofiferings  may  be,  will  never  be 
accepted  by  God  as  a  substitute  for  themselves.  Many 
think  that  God  will  be  satisfied  with  the  gift,  when  his 
call  is  for  the  giver.  We  are  more  to  him  than  all  our 
gifts.  God's  principle  is,  first  ourselves  and  then  our 
gifts.  Such  consecration  of  self  will  lead  to  a  giving  that 
will  be  adequate  for  the  needs  of  the  kingdom.  Doctor 
Cook  says,  "He  who  gives  himself,  and  not  his  property, 
is  dangerously  near  becoming  a  follower  of  Ananias." 

Giving  on  this  principle  will  also  take  into  an  account 
the  giving  of  our  whole  lives.  I  fear  God's  reckoning 
for  the  stewardship  of  my  time  more  than  I  do  that  of 


122  The  Better  Way 

my  money.  The  majority  can  much  more  easily  defraud 
and  rob  our  Lord  in  this  way  than  in  any  other.  Then, 
there  is  our  talent,  our  opportunity,  our  influence,  that 
we  have  to  render  an  account  for. 

Love  is  Essential. 

Another  element  that  must  enter  into  our  giving  to 
make  it  a  grace  is  love.  The  subject  of  the  stewardship 
of  money  is  one  that  should  call  forth  the  thoughtful 
study  of  every  disciple  of  Jesus,  for  what  will  it  profit 
a  man  if  he  should  give  millions  and  not  have  the  true 
spirit  of  giving?  Paul  in  that  remarkable  love  chapter 
in  First  Corinthians,  says,  "Though  I  give  my  goods  to 
feed  the  poor  and  my  body  to  be  burned  and  have  not 
love,  it  profiteth  me  nothing."  We  are  impressed  that 
in  God's  sight  it  is  far  more  important  how  we  give  than 
what  we  give.  I  am  sure  that  much  of  the  giving  of  this 
day  is  at  fault.  Very  frequently  it  is  a  positive  injury; 
hence,  it  is  all  important  that  we  discover  the  Bible 
method  of  giving  in  order  that  our  giving  may  become 
a  means  of  grace  and  a  source  of  blessing.  Love  is  the 
underlying  principle  of  the  whole  idea  of  giving.  Giving 
had  its  origin  in  God,  and  "God  is  love."  It  was  love 
that  caused  him  to  make  the  gift  of  his  Son.  "For  God 
so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son," 
etc.,  hence  to  give  out  of  a  heart  of  love  is  godlike.  To 
give  without  the  heart  of  love  robs  the  gift  of  its  cheer 
and  blessing.  A  sister  of  great  poverty  was  dependent 
on  one  of  her  sisters  in  the  flesh  for  the  necessaries  of 
life.     While  her  sister  was  of  large  means,  she  gave  in 


/n  Church  Finances  123 

such  a  spirit  that  her  dependent  one  was  heard  to  say, 
**I  would  rather  go  hungry  and  cold  than  to  have  her 
gifts;  she  always  makes  me  feel  so  badly."  Paul  urged 
the  Corinthian  Christians  to  give  that  he  might  thereby 
prove  the  sincerity  of  their  love.  How  we  shall  abound 
in  this  grace  when  the  love  of  God  fills  our  hearts!  It 
was  this  principle  that  was  the  secret  of  Paul's  giving. 
He  declares  that  it  was  the  love  of  Christ  ''that  con- 
strained him"  to  give  his  life  for  such  strenuous  service. 
How  easy  it  is  for  Christians  to  give  when  their  hearts 
are  burning  with  his  love.  The  mother  in  whose  heart 
love  reigns,  never  finds  it  hard  to  give  for  her  child ;  she 
will  practice  almost  any  self-denial  for  it. 

Giving  Should  be  Intelligent. 

To  have  our  giving  a  grace  it  should  be  intelligent. 
How  thoughtless  many  are  in  their  giving.  This  should 
not  be.  The  steward  should  inform  himself  of  the  needs 
of  the  work  to  w^hich  his  gifts  are  made.  If  this  were 
faithfully  carried  out  there  would  be  far  different  results 
in  the  work  of  the  church,  and  the  giving  to  her  benev- 
olences, for  we  respond  only  to  appeals  that  deeply  move 
us.  I  contend  that  as  we  become  informed,  our  hearts 
will  be  moved  with  tenderness  toward  these  interests, 
and  we  will  not  only  give,  but  we  will  pray  and  be  filled 
with  inspiration. 

As  we  become  informed  of  the  needs  of  the  great 
centers  of  population  and  the  expanding  frontier,  as 
well  as  of  the  millions  in  heathen  lands,  we  will  give  more 
largely  to  these  departments.     The  individuals  who  keep 


124  The  Better  Way 

tlK-niselvos  in  touch  with  the  great  interests  of  the 
church,  are  the  ones  who  give  most  largely  to  thege 
interests.  It  is  necessary  that  a  vigorous  campaign  of 
education  by  these  various  interests  of  the  church  accom- 
pany the  campaign  for  Christian  stewardship  awakening, 
or  the  object  desired  will  not  be  obtained.  The  past  four 
years  in  our  church  have  demonstrated  the  fact  that  a 
campaign  of  education  that  will  give  proper  information 
will  lead  to  inspiration,  and  cause  greater  investment  to 
be  made  in  the  various  interests  of  the  kingdom  of  God. 

Self-Denial. 

To  have  our  giving  a  grace  it  should  have  in  it  the 
elements  of  self-denial.  There  is  not  much  self-sacrific- 
ing in  the  giving  of  to-day.  We  make  our  gifts  out  of 
our  affluence.  If  we  could  but  grasp  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
and  at  times  give  until  we  feel  it  or  even  suffer  because 
of  it,  I  am  sure  that  great  blessing  would  flow  into  our 
souls. 

Self-denial  is  the  foundation  principle  of  the  Christian 
faith,  and  whenever  our  giving  will  incorporate  this 
principle,  it  will  add  much  to  the  giver  in  the  way  of 
blessing.  To  illustrate:  A  man  and  his  wife.  Germans, 
who  were  converted  in  Brooklyn,  on  the  day  that  they 
were  welcomed  into  the  church  placed  in  the  hand  of  the 
pastor  $375  to  be  applied  to  the  liquidation  of  the  church 
debt.  They  had  been  saving  money  through  many  years 
of  their  wedded  life,  hoping  to  take  a  trip  to  their  father- 
land. They  denied  themselves  that  pleasure  and  said, 
''The  love  of  Christ  so  constrains  us  that  we  will  be  glad 


In  Church  Finances  125 

to  lay  it  all  on  his  altar  for  him."  Where  self-sacrifice 
is  absent,  love  is  absent.  A  love  that  will  not  lead  to 
self-sacrifice  is  not  true  love. 

Must  be  Liberal. 

To  have  our  giving  a  grace  it  must  be  liberal.  Liber- 
ality, is  the  tap  root  of  the  grace  as  expounded  by  Paul, 
and  if  this  root  dies,  as  it  does  sometimes,  other  graces 
will  usually  die  with  it.  There  is  no  life  so  irresponsive 
to  the  appeal  of  the  noble  as  that  of  the  miser  or  the 
stingy  professor  of  religion.  The  liberal  giver  will  be  a 
cheerful  giver,  and  cheerful  giving  will,  like  a  refreshing 
spring  in  the  desert,  spread  life  all  around  it.  The  use 
we  make  of  money  soon  shows  in  our  character ;  as 
Doctor  Cuyler  so  truthfully  says,  "What  a  man  earns  by 
day  goes  into  his  pocket,  and  what  he  spends  by  night 
goes  into  his  character."  This  is  very  evident,  for  he 
who  hoards  his  wealth  soon  becomes  like  the  miser, 
selfish  and  shriveled  in  character;  but  if  he  contributes 
to  the  necessity  of  the  saints,  or  if  he  be  given  to  hospi- 
tality, he  will  be  like  the  palm  planted  by  the  rivers  of 
water — green  and  flourishing. 

Liberal  giving  has  many  strong  and  striking  promises. 
The  Lord  assured  Peter  that  no  man  who  left  aught  for 
his  sake  but  would  be  rewarded  many  fold  in  the  present 
life,  and  in  the  world  to  come  would  have  evrlasting  life. 
Surely  our  Lord  means  what  he  says  and  would  have  us 
prove  him. 


126  The  Better  Way 

Giving  Should  be  a  Part  of  Our  Worship. 

Devotional  methods  of  making  the  contribution  need 
to  be  sustained  in  order  to  make  giving  a  grace.  Con- 
tributions are  too  often  treated  as  a  necessary  evil  in  our 
church  life.  Frequently  we  hear  apologies  and  depreca- 
tions on  the  part  of  the  minister  for  the  receiving  of  the 
offering.  Quite  often  the  opportunity  of  giving  is  slipped 
in  somewhere  and  covered  up  as  much  as  possible.  Fre- 
quently singing  and  other  devices  are  used  to  divert  the 
mind  from  the  painful  process.  This  should  never  be 
unless  the  service  diverts  the  mind  to  the  true  spirit  of 
the  offering.  This  part  of  the  service  should  be  made 
as  devotional  as  possible.  Portions  of  the  Word  of  God 
bearing  on  the  subject  of  giving  or  worshiping  the  Lord 
with  our  substance  might  be  quoted  or  read. 

People  should  be  lead  to  feel  that  giving  is  an  act  of 
worship  and  is  as  much  a  part  of  the  devotional  service 
as  prayer  or  the  reading  of  the  Word.  They  should 
remember  that  it  is  an  offering  unto  the  Lord,  and  not 
the  taking  of  a  collection  which  might  be  pennies  or 
buttons.  If  it  is  made  an  offering  unto  the  Lord  it  will 
carry  with  it,  first,  something  choice ;  and,  second,  a 
presenting  of  it  to  the  Lord.  The  Scriptural  standard 
was,  "Give  unto  Jehovah  the  glory  due  unto  his  name; 
bring  an  offering  and  come  into  his  courts." 

This  part  of  the  service  should  be  such  that  it  will 
lead  the  mind  of  the  offerer  to  the  true  spirit  of  giving, 
rather  than  lead  it  away  from  it.  Our  giving  will  only 
be  a  grace  when  the  deepest  fountains  of  our  hearts  are 
opened  thereby. 


In  Church  Finances  127 

Giving  Must  be  a  Joy. 

That  giving  may  be  a  grace  the  people  should  be  lead 
to  experience  the  real  joy  of  giving  as  well  as  the  duty. 
The  absence  of  pleasure  in  giving  is  the  secret  of  much 
of  the  niggardliness  that  characterizes  much  of  the  giv- 
ing of  to-day.  When  it  hurts  one  to  give,  he  will  not 
give  much.  If  the  Bible  system  of  giving  be  adopted,  it 
will  soon  lead  to  a  cheerful,  joyful  response,  and  the 
gifts  we  bring  will  be  lovingly  laid  upon  the  altar.  Many 
are  claiming  freedom  from  the  fixed  law  of  the  Word 
because  they  claim  that  it  destroys  the  love  and  joy  of 
o-iving:.  Love  does  not  free  one  from  the  observance  of 
the  law.  Love  to  God  does  not  free  one  from  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath.  If  a  man  marries  a  woman 
he  loves,  he  is  not  free  from  the  marriage  law  because 
he  loves  her.  If  we  can  learn  to  give  day  by  day  as  God 
requires,  it  will  help  to  bring  heaven  nearer  to  us  and  will 
bring  us  nearer  to  heaven.  Remember  that  the  Christ 
who  sat  over  against  the  treasury  and  watched  how  they 
gave,  watches  our  gifts.  What  is  given  in  the  spirit  of 
whole-hearted  devotion  and  love,  he  accepts.  If  we  de- 
sire, he  will  teach  us  how  to  give,  and  how  much  to  give, 
so  that  our  giving  may  be  a  grace. 


